When the Clippers dealt leading scorer Tobias Harris to the Sixers for, among others, a trove of draft picks and future salary cap flexibility on the eve of the trade deadline, not a few quarters believed them to be on rebuild mode for the remainder of the season. It wasn’t an unreasonable conclusion to draw given the way they hitherto competed; for all their supposed lack of talent in the absence of a marquee name, they led the West standings at one point. There was likewise the matter of their first-round pick in this year’s draft, which they wouldn’t need to convey to the Celtics if they miss the playoffs.
As it turns out, conventional wisdom couldn’t have been more wrong. Whether or not those in the Clippers front office did initially think of tanking is irrelevant at this point; what matters is that when they firmed up their plans in the aftermath of the trade, they decided to aim for a postseason stint. Forget what they were about to forego, or that they could very well be looking at a one-and-done appearance against the conference’s acknowledged heavyweights. From their vantage point, building a winning culture was most crucial to their cause.
And so the Clippers have found themselves on a mission every time out. True, they hurt themselves when they let go of Harris, a certified glue guy on and off the court. On the other hand, they rightly figured that they wouldn’t have been able to keep him, anyway; he was due for a new contract, and the numbers he deserved wouldn’t have allowed them to thereafter go all out for the All-Star free agents they coveted, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant included. Meanwhile, they’re keen on sending their prospects the message that they stand for success regardless of circumstance.
Yesterday, the Clippers prevailed for the sixth time in the 10 contests they’ve played since they bid Harris farewell. They’re scheduled to go up against the reeling Lakers today, and another victory will put them just one game out of sixth in the conference and within striking distance of homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It’s a remarkable feat in and of itself, reflective of both head coach Doc Rivers’ capacity to motivate his charges and top management’s commitment to progress. And, frankly, the results are seen to go well beyond their 2018-19 campaign.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
