Gradey Dick made his point in a tight one-point win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he did it in the kind of game that leaves a coach with no easy excuses.
With the Thunder bringing pressure on both ends, the head coach trusted Dick to help close out crunch time, and that call paid off. Dick stayed in the mix all night, finishing with 13 points and three rebounds off the bench while shooting 5-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
That kind of night matters even more with Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal expected back. When those two return, minutes on the LA Clippers’ bench are going to disappear somewhere. But Dick’s performance made the case that his spot should not be one of the casualties.
He was active everywhere. One possession he was chasing down a loose ball, the next he was knocking down a three to keep the Clippers hanging around, and when the shot wasn’t there, he was making smart cuts for easy looks at the rim. The feel is obvious, and it showed up in all the little plays that don’t always jump off the stat sheet.
For the season, Dick is up to 7.8 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting 53.3% from the field and 47.6% from three. Those numbers explain why he’s become such a useful piece for LA, and why it would be a mistake to push him out of the rotation when the roster gets crowded.
Lue has decisions coming once the Clippers are healthy. But after what Dick did against Oklahoma City, one thing looks clear: he needs to stay in the mix.
In Other News...
Clippers Linked To Rival Trade Idea Fans Will Hate
A fresh Lakers trade idea is already making the rounds, and it is the sort of cross-town proposal that would not sit well with Clippers fans. ESPN floated a scenario in which Los Angeles could look to add another defensive piece around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, targeting Derrick Jones Jr. as part of a push to keep leaning into that end of the floor.
For the Clippers, the wrinkle is obvious: Jones has value as a defender and has a history with Doncic from the 2024 Finals, but the idea only gains traction if he is open to a change of scenery. If talks ever moved beyond the rumor stage, the return being discussed would give the Clippers a chance to reshape the roster while the Lakers keep chasing the kind of defensive identity that has helped fuel their strong start. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Face A Different Thunder Test Depending On One Rising Scorer
The Clippers could be looking at a very different version of Oklahoma City depending on the status of Ajay Mitchell, who is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain after sitting out the Thunders game against Portland. Mitchell has emerged as an important secondary scoring option for a team already dealing with a crowded injury report, and his availability would shape how much pressure the Clippers have to absorb beyond the usual Shai Gilgeous-Alexander focus.
Oklahoma City has several other players listed out or questionable, which only adds to the uncertainty around how the Thunder will line up. For the Clippers, the wrinkle is less about one name on the injury report than the ripple effect it creates, because Mitchells presence or absence changes the balance of a matchup that already comes with plenty of moving parts. [Read more 🡒]
Baba Miller Is Giving Clippers Fans A Ty Lue Debate
Baba Miller has quietly become one of the more interesting names on the Clippers bench, even if most of his minutes have come in low-leverage spots. The second-round pick has averaged just 10.5 minutes per game, usually when the game is already out of hand or when injuries have thinned the frontcourt, but he has still managed to flash the kind of all-around production that tends to get a coaching staffs attention.
What makes the case more compelling is that Miller has stood out in more than one area, showing value as a scorer, rebounder and defender while making the most of limited run. For a team that is always balancing development, depth and the demands of a playoff chase, his impact has created a real question for Ty Lue: whether those brief cameos are enough, or whether Miller has earned a more stable role in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]