Clippers Rumors: Off-season exchanges put big burden on Austin Rivers

The latest Clippers rumors address how this off-season affects Austin Rivers moving forward.

Playing as the coach’s son isn’t an easy thing to do, but it’s never an excuse for nepotism. After Chris Paul’s shocking trade to the Houston Rockets, it was revealed that Austin was at the center of an issue CP3 had with Doc Rivers.

Apparently, there was a deal on the table that in the end would bring Carmelo Anthony to New York. If they pulled the trigger on the trade, though, Doc’s son would be sent elsewhere. Rumor has it that the trade did not go through for that very reason.

While Chris Paul is in the clear and his fresh start couldn’t have really come at a better time or place, the same can’t be said for Austin Rivers. The Clippers are in a pickle and, after year’s of disappointingly short playoff runs, don’t have much left.

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Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan can still be a problem for opponents, but outside of that, there are many questions. In the Chris Paul deal, Los Angeles got a number of players including veterans Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley.

How Rivers works with both Williams and Beverley matters because chemistry is their key to success right now. If things start off shaky, and the Chris Paul revelations about potential nepotism come back into the spotlight, it likely won’t end well for Austin or his father.

On the flip side, this season could also become Rivers’ own proving grounds. What Chris Paul felt and said is already out there, so what is the response going to be? It’s the better question to be asking, since fans are probably now wondering what goes on behind closed doors.

Rivers averaged just 12 points per game last season, with under three assists and three rebounds to go with it. Those numbers should climb without Chris Paul in the way, but not too much.

It really wouldn’t be fair to expect Rivers to emerge as the best player on the team. But at the very least, he should be able to let his play speak for itself and be the reason he plays in the NBA — not because of his father.

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Regardless of that, his new teammates have probably considered all that went into that situation. And now it’s up to Austin Rivers himself to clear the air — but he’ll only get one chance to do that.