The Clippers finally traded Kawhi Leonard. Now they have to assemble an actual basketball team from what remains.
The roster isn’t devoid of talent. It is, however, oddly shaped.
Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram appear to be the only unquestioned starters. Cem Yolbulan of NBA on SI projects Max Strus, Rui Hachimura and Brook Lopez to join them. That lineup would offer shooting and scoring. Defense could be another matter.
Coach Ty Lue could instead start Kris Dunn or Derrick Jones Jr. to provide more resistance on the perimeter. Bradley Beal also remains an option, although deploying him as a scorer off the bench may produce the cleanest fit.
The Clippers have no shortage of guards and wings. Dunn, Beal, rookie Keaton Wagler, Kobe Sanders, Gradey Dick and Cam Christie are among those competing for minutes.
The frontcourt is another story. Lopez is the only established starting-caliber center, with Isaiah Jackson serving as the primary backup while Yanic Konan Niederhauser recovers from Lisfranc surgery. One injury could turn a questionable rotation into an emergency.
Los Angeles also has 17 players under contract and must remove two before opening night. Yolbulan identified Dick, Christie, Baba Miller and Johni Broome as potential candidates to lose their spots.
I would not bury Dick quite yet. The Clippers just acquired the former lottery pick as part of the Leonard trade, and examining him during camp would seem to be the entire point.
Either way, Lue has options. He just doesn’t have many evenly distributed ones. The Kawhi problem has finally been solved. The roster-construction problem is only beginning.
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