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Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Either Tobias Harris is a big downgrade from Blake Griffin or he isn't.

No ambiguity in saying he wasn't a big downgrade. If they traded everyone else and left him the best player on the team they'd be bad, but you could say that for Griffin too (especially because with his injury history and contract it would’ve been a logical move to shut him down for the last few weeks of a non-playoff season). If they really want to make a run for the playoffs, Harris is less talented but a better fit next to Williams and Jordan due to his shooting, so once again - not a big downgrade from Griffin to him.

Avery Bradley is actually a solid fit next to Milos Teodosic & Lou if he stays.

I get that he used to play for the Celtics but he's not good. His RPM is -2.98 (3rd worst of SGs who play more than 20 minutes a game) and for an alleged defensive specialist there's a pretty substantial track record of his teams defending better overall when he's not on the court. Signing both Bradley and Williams long-term would have the Clippers in the luxury tax for what would be a low-tier playoff team in the event a bunch of older players managed to stay healthy and avoid decline, which would obviously be a pretty dumb proposition.

And the Clippers just went 3-2 with DJ out including the win over the Rockets. They already have 25 wins, and Danilo Gallinari/Austin Rivers coming back might hurt more than it helps, but I would still bet my life savings on them going better than 3-30 the rest of the season.

I hope you make that bet because from my perspective and most likely theirs, CLIPPERS GET SOMETHING OUT OF GRIFFIN SUPERMAX CONTRACT is the headline of the deal and wherever they end up in the standings is gravy. If you want to misconstrue my words as saying the Clippers will literally win 3 or fewer games the rest of the season, be my guest if it makes you feel smarter and happier about your lot in life when they win more than that.

Considering how many wins the Clippers have in hand, which of the Magic, Hawks, Bulls, Nets, Suns, Kings, Mavs, Grizzlies are getting above 30 wins and the Clippers eventual win total? So even if all the other teams - including the Lakers, Jazz, Hornets, who are all very flawed - pass them, you're still only at a 6% chance of getting into the top 3, and a 94% chance you're at #9/10/11.

This is no different what I already said, which is that even 6% is a tenfold increase at getting into the top 3 compared to what the odds are as the best lottery team and that at the very least, it's a nice fringe benefit to trading Griffin when I would not have expected any takers for him.

People are even hinting that the Clippers might not actually trade DJ, LouWill & now I guess Bradley too. Which doesn't make any sense to me, but few of the Clippers moves since Doc took over have. It's not like the alternative of letting Griffin age into that contract was great either, but I just really disagree with the overall direction they seem to be heading.

Once again, this is pretty credulous of you to assume. I don't know if you think the Clippers should be saying "Shit, DeAndre can be a free agent this summer and would have left us before if Blake hadn't locked him in a house, so we really need to get something for him ASAP because we want to start tanking" or what, but that wouldn't be too smart of them.