Darius Garland, Max Strus could give battered Clippers something to build around

The Clippers have had better weeks. But eventually they will have to get back to playing basketball, and when they do, a couple of familiar faces to Cavaliers fans could have significant roles.

Darius Garland may be the biggest reason for whatever optimism remains in Los Angeles.

Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports noted that Garland looked increasingly comfortable after arriving from Cleveland in February, despite dealing with a lingering toe issue. The Clippers outscored opponents by 11 points per 100 possessions with Garland on the floor, while their half-court offense was nearly eight points better.

Now Garland gets an old running mate back. Max Strus joined the Clippers in the five-team trade that sent Peyton Watson to Cleveland, and the fit makes sense. Garland knows where Strus likes the ball, Strus knows how Garland operates, and both already understand what Tyronn Lue wants offensively.

I covered Garland and Strus (and Lue) extensively in Cleveland, of course, and Garland remains one of the league’s more gifted playmakers when healthy. Strus doesn’t need the ball to make an impact. He’ll move, shoot and generally make himself available.

That’s useful when Garland is running the show. Iko also suggests Garland could help Gradey Dick, expected to arrive in the Kawhi Leonard trade, rediscover his shooting touch.

None of this fixes what just happened to the Clippers. Leonard is leaving, five future first-round picks are gone, and expectations have changed dramatically.

But Lue coached the Cavs to the 2016 championship. Garland and Strus were key Cavs for years. Those three know something about making an offense work.

Right now, the Clippers will take whatever stability they can get.