The Clippers are coming out of a brutal stretch with plenty of questions and not much certainty. Still, if they’re looking for a place to start, two names that Cavaliers fans know well could matter a lot: Darius Garland and Max Strus.
Garland may be the clearest source of hope for Los Angeles. Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports reported that Garland settled in more and more after landing from Cleveland in February, even while dealing with a lingering toe issue. When he was on the floor, the Clippers were plus-11 points per 100 possessions, and their half-court offense improved by nearly eight points.
The fit gets even cleaner with Strus back alongside him. Strus came over in the five-team trade that sent Peyton Watson to Cleveland, and the pairing makes obvious sense. Garland knows where Strus wants the ball, Strus knows Garland’s rhythm, and both are already familiar with what Tyronn Lue wants on offense.
That familiarity matters because Garland, when healthy, is still one of the league’s best playmakers. Strus doesn’t need the ball to be useful; he can move, fire away from deep and stay active without stopping the flow.
Iko also pointed out that Garland could help Gradey Dick, who is expected to arrive in the Kawhi Leonard trade, find his shot again.
Of course, none of that changes the bigger reality for the Clippers. Leonard is gone, five future first-round picks are gone, and the outlook looks very different now.
Even so, there is at least some shared history to lean on. Lue coached the Cavs to the 2016 championship, while Garland and Strus were major parts of Cleveland for years. Those three know how to make an offense function.
For the Clippers, that may be about as much stability as they can ask for right now.
In Other News...
Clippers Sanction Fallout Could Put A Key Piece In Play
The Clippers are suddenly in a more complicated place after the NBAs sanctions tied to Kawhi Leonards salary cap issues, and around the league that has opened the door to a familiar kind of speculation: if Los Angeles shifts from building mode to selling mode, who becomes available and who starts calling. For a team that had been trying to hold together a contender, the new uncertainty has already changed the conversation around the roster.
One name now being floated in those discussions is Darius Garland, with the Phoenix Suns among the teams watching closely because of how well he would fit their backcourt needs. There is also a familiar coaching link in the mix, since Suns coach Jordan Ott previously worked with Garland in Cleveland, which only adds to the sense that if the situation around the Clippers keeps moving in this direction, the chatter could get even louder. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Fans Just Got A Brutal Look At This Teams Future
The Clippers long-term outlook took a serious hit when the NBA handed down punishment tied to Kawhi Leonards contract extension, leaving the franchise staring at a much tougher path forward. For a team that has spent years trying to build around veteran talent, the loss of draft capital changes the equation in a hurry and makes the next stretch feel less like a retool and more like a painful reset.
For fans, the frustration goes beyond the standings because this kind of penalty can reshape an organizations future before the basketball even gets played. It also gives the Lakers another reason to watch a cross-town rival from a distance, while Leonards name gets pulled back into a story he would probably rather leave behind. The real challenge now is how the Clippers answer the shortage of young assets, because the road back just got a lot harder. [Read more 🡒]
Kawhi's Toronto Reunion Is Still Stuck For One Serious Reason
Kawhi Leonards path back to Toronto took a major legal step forward when the NBA finished its investigation into the Clippers handling of his contract, removing the threat of a suspension that had loomed over any reunion. The league still handed down significant penalties to Los Angeles, and the situation has left both sides in a holding pattern while the trade paperwork remains unresolved.
Even with Leonard cleared, the deal is not simply ready to roll. Toronto is said to be taking a harder look at the terms after the Clippers were hit with five first-round pick losses and a $30 million fine, while Los Angeles is planning to challenge the punishment. For now, neither team has said much publicly, and the most important part of the reunion still appears to be stuck behind what happens next. [Read more 🡒]