The Los Angeles Clippers are caught in a roller-coaster ride these days despite having a seemingly solid lineup on paper.
But with a 10–9 record that is good for sixth place, their current standing is not actually something to be proud off considering their roster and pre-tournament billing.
There are some who will point out that while the team seems to have each position amply covered, there are surpluses on various fronts.
Consider a team that has Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford and one has to agree that this is a pretty formidable team with starting and second units. Up front they have the tandem of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, two powers who can intimidate any team at any time.
So how about the people on the bench?
Aside from Crawford, there are JJ Reddick, Austin Rivers, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Wesley Johnson and CJ Wilcox, all of whom could easily be a starter for any team.
Don't forget Paul Pierce, the aging veteran who is not afraid to take the big shots when the need arises. So with that lineup, what could possibly be wrong?
It could be a case of stocking up too much on high profile players, something the Clippers have been adopting for a long time. Such has not translated into anything, so Rivers may want to apply a new approach.
Could it mean some players are about to be moved?
Stephenson and Crawford have been subject to trade rumors but of the two, Crawford seems the likely one to be traded. Other than him, there seems to be no other interesting asset to trade up for, unless the Clippers part with Griffin or Smith for one solid player.
Chemistry is seen as a problem since star players do carry egos whether they like it or not. Then there is the age factor to consider as well with Rivers known to give vets a chance in his system.
It worked only once for Rivers with the Celtics but nothing followed after that. So why not look into a trade for some rookie or sophomore like maybe Jahlil Okafor (Philadelphia 76ers) or maybe even a Julius Randle (Los Angeles Lakers) if there teams are interested?
Of course, Okafor and Randle are key players of the future which could make it hard for the Clippers to get their hands on either. Would they trade up their old players just in case?
Well if not now, maybe in the offseason. They are expected to pitch for Kevin Durant as well, although their chances don't seem bright unless they toss in some key players in the mix.
