The Los Angeles Clippers' offseason was one of the biggest dramas in the NBA.
Paul George, the team's core player, unexpectedly reached a four-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers overnight, which caught Clippers management and fans off guard.
You know, the Clippers paid a huge price to get George.
They sent away would-be All-Star Gallinari and Alexander who has now grown into the Thunder's star team, plus five first-round picks and two first-round swaps.
With such a big investment, but now George slipped away in vain, and he didn't even get a draft pick back, isn't this a bamboo basket for nothing?
So, why did the Clippers let George go? According to the famous ESPN reporter Woshen, the reason is actually very simple: the two sides collapsed in the contract renewal negotiations.
George wanted a four-year max contract, but the Clippers felt that his age, coupled with his ups and downs in recent years, made him undeserving of such a high salary.
The Clippers don't want to continue to build George as the core of the team.
In fact, the Warriors were very interested in George before, and the Clippers were willing to send him over as a favor.
It's a pity that the Warriors won't trade Kuminga, and are only willing to trade players like Wiggins and Chris Paul whose performance and salary are seriously mismatched.
The Clippers saw that the deal was losing a lot and decisively withdrew from the negotiations.
Seeing this, George didn't have the patience to continue waiting, so he simply didn't do anything and jumped out of the contract and went to the 76ers.
To be honest, the Clippers are quite sensible this time.
Sometimes subtraction is more appropriate than blind addition.
Instead of giving George a big contract that could become a burden, it is better to let it go decisively and leave more possibilities for the team's future.
But the Clippers don't stop there.
They are also planning to part ways with another veteran, PJ Tucker.
While Tucker had just exercised his $11.5 million player option, the Clippers were already aggressively touting him on the trade market.
If they can't find a buyer, they're even prepared to lay off Tucker by extending the terms and spread the money over the next few years.
Tucker's performance with the Clippers last season was really not as good as it could have been.
He appeared in just 28 regular season games, averaging 15 minutes per game and scoring just 1.6 points.
The former three-point shooter and defensive stalwart is now dead.
If he is really cut by the Clippers, I am afraid that his NBA career will come to an end.
However, the Clippers are not just subtracting, they are also actively looking to bring in new blood.
According to Los Angeles Times reporter Brad Turner, the Clippers are mulling a sign-and-trade deal with the goal of acquiring Miles Bridges.
The chips they offered were Mann, Powell and a future first-round pick.
The Hornets are currently weighing the pros and cons of the deal, and negotiations between the two sides have entered deep waters.
Bridges is a very interesting player.
The 26-year-old is 2.01m tall and weighs 102kg and can play both small forward and power forward positions on the court.
He has played five seasons in the NBA, averaging 14.8 points and six rebounds per game.
The most powerful thing is that his highest score in a single game reached 45 points and 16 rebounds, which is not something that ordinary people can do.
If the Clippers can get Bridges, it will undoubtedly greatly improve the team's competitiveness.
Bridges is well-rounded and physical, and can both get to the basket on the offensive end and shoot from the outside.
He could fill the offensive vacuum after George's departure.
Defensively, Bridges isn't a top-tier defender, but he's also a reliable defender who can handle all sorts of tasks assigned by his coach.
Of course, Bridges also has a big hidden danger, that is, he has a bit of a hot temper.
He was banned for multiple games for domestic violence and was nearly permanently expelled from the league by the NBA.
However, I believe that under the training of big brothers such as Leonard and Harden, Bridges should be able to restrain himself and play well.
Overall, the Clippers' operation this offseason can be described as a big move.
Letting George and Tucker go and bringing in Bridges, the team could have a whole new look.
While it's a bit of a shame to lose an All-Star like George, in the long run, it may allow the team to get out of the current embarrassing situation and find a way forward.
What does the future hold for the Clippers? Can Leonard take the lead? Will Bridges be the team's savior? I'm afraid these problems will not be known until the start of the new season.
But one thing is certain, and that is that the Clippers will not let that sink for granted.
They will definitely do their best to rebuild a team that can challenge for the championship.
After all, in this west, where the heroes rise together, if you don't advance, you will retreat!
Let's wait and see if the Clippers can re-emerge and renew after losing George.
NBA stories are always full of drama, and I believe that the new chapter of the Clippers will be exciting and feast the eyes of all our fans!
The Clippers' operation was earth-shattering and shook the entire NBA.
Fans have speculated about what the former Western powerhouse will do next.
After all, losing an All-Star like Paul George would be a big drain on any team.
However, the management of the Clippers does not seem to be resigned to sinking and is actively looking for a new way out.
A netizen expressed his opinion on this: "To be honest, I think the Clippers' operation this time is quite wise.
George is a good player, but his injury history is really worrying.
Besides, he's 33 years old, and his prime may have passed.
Instead of giving him a sky-high contract, it is better to let it go as soon as possible and leave some space for the future of the team.
Besides, the Clippers still have Leonard and Harden, two superstars, and they wouldn't collapse without George, right? ＂
Indeed, the Clippers' roster is still not to be underestimated.
Leonard is one of the best two-way players in the league, and his defensive ability and offensive efficiency are top-notch.
And although Harden is not young, his organizational ability and projection ability are still among the top in the league.
If these two stars can stay healthy, the Clippers still have the ability to make waves in the West.
However, there are also fans who have expressed concerns about the future of the Clippers.
Some netizens said: "I think the Clippers may have taken a bit of a risk this time."
George has his shortcomings, but he is one of the core of the team.
Now that he's gone, what if Leonard or Harden gets injured? Besides, while Bridges has good potential, it's still unknown whether he can fit into the Clippers' system.
And can his temper really be managed? I'm afraid he'll cause more problems for the team.
＂
This netizen's concern is not unreasonable.
The Clippers are indeed a bit thin on the roster right now, and if the main players are injured, there really aren't many people on the bench who can top up.
Moreover, although Bridges is talented, his character is indeed a big hidden danger.
If he can't control his temper on the pitch, it will probably affect the atmosphere of the whole team.
Speaking of Bridges, I have to mention his amazing performance of 45 points and 16 rebounds in a single game.
Some netizens said excitedly: "I think Bridges may become the savior of the Clippers!" Think about it, how much potential should a player who can score 45 points and 16 rebounds in a single game have? If he can play at that level with the Clippers, then George's departure won't be a big deal.
Besides, Bridges is only 26 years old, which is the golden age, maybe he can go to the next level with the Clippers! ＂
This netizen's optimism is not unreasonable.
Bridges does have a lot of talent, and if he can find his place with the Clippers and play well, he could indeed become the new core of the team.
And, playing next to superstars like Leonard and Harden will also help Bridges grow a lot.
However, the Clippers' road to rebuilding has not been easy.
In addition to letting George go, they also intend to part ways with PJ Tucker.
While Tucker's performance has not been as good as it once was, his experience and defensive prowess are still valuable in the playoffs.
In this regard, some netizens said: "I think the Clippers may have been a little hasty in letting Tucker go."
Although his performance in the regular season was indeed not satisfactory, don't forget, Tucker is a veteran of the playoffs! His defense and three-point shooting can still come in handy when it matters most.
Moreover, his influence in the dressing room should not be underestimated.
Now the team is in a period of rebuilding, and it needs to have such a veteran to stabilize the morale of the army.
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This netizen's point of view is also very reasonable.
In the NBA, seasoned veterans can often play an unexpected role in the playoffs.
Despite Tucker's age, his defensive awareness and tournament experience are unmatched by younger players.
If the Clippers do let Tucker go, they could suffer from the lack of such a veteran in the playoffs.
Still, the Clippers' management clearly has their own considerations.
They may think that rather than keeping a veteran who is no longer able to contribute much on the pitch, it would be better to make room for younger players and plan for the future of the team.
After all, the NBA is a brutal league, and if you don't advance, you will retreat.
If a team is always clinging to veterans, it is likely to miss out on the opportunity to develop new talents.
Fans have mixed opinions about the future of the Clippers.
Some are optimistic, some are worried, but in any case, the fate of this team affects the hearts of countless fans.
Some netizens concluded: "Anyway, I'm still looking forward to the new season of the Clippers.
Despite the loss of George and Tucker, the combination of Leonard and Harden is still strong.
If Bridges can fit in, it might surprise us.
And, I'm sure the Clippers' management must have other plans.
Maybe they'll sign some potential players on the free market, or get some instant power through trades.
In short, the Clippers will be very interesting in the new season! ＂
Indeed, despite all the changes, the Clippers are still a team to be reckoned with.
They have some of the league's top stars, an experienced coaching staff, and deep financial backing.
Although it may seem a little difficult now, who can say that they won't work miracles in the new season?
In the NBA, a world of possibilities, anything can happen.
Maybe tomorrow, the Clippers will announce a blockbuster trade.
Maybe next month, they'll sign a promising rookie.
Maybe by the middle of the season, Bridges will burst into an astonishing force.
That's the beauty of the NBA, it's always suspenseful, it's always exciting.
Let's wait and see if this once-Western powerhouse can rise back after losing its core players.
Regardless of the result, I believe that the new season of the Clippers will be exciting and feast the eyes of all our fans!