Hill is constantly injured and Barnes-while improving-remains inconsistent. That said, while guys like Barnes, Hill and Butler are all capable small forwards, neither provides the athletic punch Los Angeles boasts at every other position. Toss in the ever versatile Matt Barnes, Grant Hill, Caron Butler and Lamar Odom, and this team has it made. The Clippers are also more than set in the backcourt with Paul, Jamal Crawford, Willie Green, Eric Bledsoe and Chauncey Billups upon his return. This team is set in the post with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and even Ronny Turiaf. Los Angeles’ weakest point is obviously the small forward spot. Why on earth would they want to screw that up? The Clippers are one of two teams (San Antonio Spurs) that sit in the top five of both defensive and offensive efficiency. On the one hand, this team doesn’t want to mess with a good thing. Albeit, neither is his career-worst 41.4 percent shooting. I mean his 17.8 points per game are no joke. Yes, Gay is expensive-he’s owed more than $53 million over the next three seasons-but he’s a borderline star. Instead, this is a Clippers team, backed by a suddenly frivolous owner in Donald Sterling, that is prepared to do whatever it takes to win and retain the free-agent-to-be in Paul this summer.Īt this point, it’s hard to imagine Paul spurning Los Angeles’ red-jerseyed stepchild in favor of anyone else, yet that hasn’t stopped the Clippers from exploring every possible scenario that could better their current convocation, including the pursuit of Gay. This isn’t the same Clippers team that willingly heaved a pile of money at Elton Brand or Baron Davis. The Clippers, I’m told, would consider Gay but are also justifiably wary of doing anything to affect the chemistry that has played such a big part in their season.
Is rudy gay a good defender upgrade#
It’s clear they are on the lookout for an upgrade over reserve point guard Jerryd Bayless, and Butler would fill Gay’s small forward spot – albeit not nearly as well. 21 deadline, a package involving Clippers backup point guard Eric Bledsoe and veteran small forward Caron Butler, picks and other players to make the money work could be just what the Grizzlies are looking for (three teams may need to be involved).
While it remains unclear how determined the Memphis Grizzlies and their new management group are to move their star small forward before the Feb. But while such success would normally dictate that a team not do a damn thing to disrupt their chemistry in any way, Los Angeles may not be prepared to abide by such a notion.Īccording to Sam Amick of USA Today the Clippers remain a viable landing spot for the aggressively shopped Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies: But should they try to make it even better?Ĭurrently, the Chris Paul-led Clippers have the second-best record in the NBA, trailing only the seemingly unbeatable Oklahoma City Thunder.
If it’s not broke, the Los Angeles Clippers shouldn’t try to fix it.