Los Angeles Clippers
Team Outlook-
The window for an NBA Championship run is starting to close for the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers were eliminated in the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs by the Portland Trail Blazers after Blake Griffin re-aggravated his quadriceps. When the Clippers lost out on the Kevin Durant lottery, plan B was to bring back most of the core players for one more ride. The Clippers core is aging but they have the talent to compete with anyone in the West not named Golden State. The Clippers generate fantasy production from their big 3 players, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan. Thus, the Clippers fantasy stats are usually easier to predict from game to game as compared to most teams in the NBA.
Projected Starting Lineup
Point Guard- Chris Paul-
When Blake Griffin missed time last season, Chris Paul took his game to the next level embracing more of a playmaker role. Paul finished fourth with 10.0 assists/per game and third with 2.05 steals/per game last season. Paul is a mainstay in the top 5 with assists and steals every year. Father time is starting to catch up to Paul as he is now 31 years old and still searching for a championship ring.
Shooting Guard- JJ Redick-
JJ Redick is a streaky player who relies on the bulk of his fantasy production through three-point scoring. Redick is more of a GPP option because of his boom/bust production. When Redick is in good form, he can erupt for massive games, such as his 40-point effort on 1/18/16 vs. Houston or his 31-point effort on 12/9/16 at Milwaukee. If Jamal Crawford misses time, Redick will see a bump in minutes and thus should have more shot opportunities.
Small Forward- Luc Mbah a Moute-
Coach Doc Rivers has said that the starting small forward job is wide open, but currently Luc Mbah a Moute has an edge over Wes Johnson and Paul Pierce. Regardless who starts at small forward, the position hasn’t yielded fantasy results over the past few seasons. Mbah a Moute started the majority of the games last season but he is primarily a defensive player with very limited fantasy upside.
Power Forward- Blake Griffin-
Blake Griffin has struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons. On December 26, Griffin was ruled out indefinitely with partially torn left quadriceps. Griffin was expected to return on January 26 but was instead ruled out an additional 4-6 weeks after sustaining a right-hand injury from hitting a member of the team’s equipment staff. Griffin returned for the playoffs but re-aggravated the injury and missed the remainder of the post- season. When Griffin is healthy and focused, he has the skill to be one of the top big men in the game. Expect Griffin to bounce back strong this season.
Center- DeAndre Jordan-
Last season, DeAndre Jordan finished second in the association with 13.8 rebounds/per game (13.8) and second with 2.30 blocks/per game. Jordan is one of only a handful of players that is capable of producing a 20 point/20 rebound game. Jordan accomplished this feat on 3/7/16 at Dallas and narrowly missed in a couple of other games. While the hack-a-Deandre strategy in wildly unpopular, it provides Jordan with additional opportunities for fantasy points while the game is stopped.
Key Bench Players
Jamal Crawford-SG- Jamal Crawford re-signed with the Clippers on a three-year contract worth $42 million. Crawford is the 6th man off the bench usually substituting in for JJ Redick. Crawford is similar to Redick as he is very scoring dependent. If Redick misses any time, Crawford will see an uptick in minutes along with an increase in fantasy upside.
Austin Rivers-PG -Austin Rivers re-signed with the Clippers on a three-year, $35 million contract. Last season, Rivers set career highs in points and field goal percentage. Expect Rivers to backup Chris Paul and provide an attractive DFS price point if Paul should happen to miss time.
Paul Pierce-SF, PF- Paul Pierce has stated that 2016-2017 will be his final season. Pierce was brought in prior to last season to provide a spark off the bench. However, Pierce looked as though he had lost a step as his minutes and production were down across the board last season.
Wes Johnson-SF- Wes Johnson re-signed to a three-year, $18 million contract with the Clippers. A surprising move considering Johnson’s field goal percentage and 3-point percentage has dropped in each of the last two seasons. Of the Clippers options at Small Forward, Johnson has the most fantasy upside, but it is still minimal when Paul, Griffin, and Jordan are healthy.
Key Offseason Acquisitions
Raymond Felton-PG- Raymond Felton signed a one-year minimum salary contract to join the Clippers. Expect Felton to be buried on the depth chart behind Chris Paul and Austin Rivers. Felton has very little fantasy value unless both Paul and Rivers suffer an injury.
Brandon Bass-PF, C- Brandon Bass signed a one-year deal coming over from the Los Angeles Lakers. Bass will slot in at Power Forward if Blake Griffin suffers another injury. However, Bass would not assume all of the fantasy production if Griffin misses time. Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan would be the main beneficiaries from a Griffin injury.
Marreese Speights-C-After spending the past three seasons in Golden State, Marreese Speights agreed to a one-year minimum salary contract. Speights will try to assume the role of Cole Aldrich, who had success coming off the bench for the Clippers last season. Speights is a shooter but he will not play enough minutes to have a fantasy impact. If DeAndre Jordan or Blake Griffin miss time, Speights will see an uptick in minutes and thus provide value for DFS.
Key Offseason Departures
Jeff Green-SF- The Jeff Green experiment never worked out for the Clippers. Green moved on and signed a one-year $15 million contract with the Orlando Magic.
Cole Aldrich-C- Cole Aldrich signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Aldrich was a spark off the bench for the Clippers who will be missed.