LOS ANGELES — The Clippers’ need for a true point guard apparently isn’t as crucial as it once seemed now that the trade deadline came and went. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, in speaking with reporters before Friday’s game, said the organization is content to “see what this looks like, see how it fits.”
“This” is the new-look Clippers. The team acquired guards veteran Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland and center Mason Plumlee on Thursday and shipped out guards Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard and John Wall.
Frank said the team will continue to monitor the buyout market, which could include former Lakers Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley, but for the time being “we would like to marinate a bit” on what they have in their locker room.
Plus, any guard would have to understand the ball-handling hierarchy – one reason why the Clippers are not in any hurry to find a player who wants to bring the ball up the court.
“PG and Kawhi handle the ball 60% of the time so it would have to be a delicate balance,” Frank said.
In acquiring those three players, Frank said the Clippers checked off five needs that they had identified.
He said they enhanced their playoff rotation; consolidated their guards, addressed positional needs and added youth to a heavy veteran squad and flexibility.
“We are fortunate to have checked off those boxes,” Frank said.
Frank said each of the three new faces add qualities that could push the team toward a successful postseason run. He said Gordon, who started his 12-year career with the Clippers, will “fit in seamlessly” and at 6-foot-11 Plumlee gives the Clippers another “playmaker at that size.”
Frank, however, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm over getting Hyland, an energetic second-year player who was the 26th overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in the 2021 Draft. “We kind of fell in love with Bones at the draft,” Frank said, pointing out how he will push the pace on the…
Read the full article here
