Danilo Gallinari is going to prevent the Clippers from getting any stars

Although hindsight is definitely 20/20, signing Danilo Gallinari now looks like it could lead to many problems for the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Los Angeles Clippers had no intentions of tanking this year without Chris Paul. Nothing proves that more than the three-year, $64 million contract the Clippers inked forward Danilo Gallinari to. Los Angeles seemed committed to winning with Blake Griffin and making him the face of the franchise.

Now, Griffin is a member of the Detroit Pistons despite inking a five-year extension prior to 2017. DeAndre Jordan seems to be on his way out alongside Lou Williams, who arguably has been carrying the Clippers to this point.

Now, Gallinari’s contract seems like a massive mistake. And of course, that is in hindsight. At the time of the signing, I thought it was good for the Clippers. Although I did think they overpaid an injury prone player about $5 million a year, they seemed to be setting a great precedent: we are committed to winning.

For whatever reason, that same ideology has changed despite having years to build around Blake Griffin. Now, talks of the Clippers luring in LeBron James are present. Los Angeles essentially traded away their star for hopes of another.

That won’t work and Danilo Gallinari is going to be a big reason why it doesn’t.

Of course, Gallinari’s contract plays a huge role in this. And while performances alongside Tobias Harris against the Bulls seemingly make the contract seem worth it, it simply is not. The two forwards have a combined cap hit of over $36 million next season; neither are all-stars.

While the Clippers will still have cap space, they are only creating a logjam at forward. LeBron James, Paul George or even Carmelo Anthony are not going to want to join a forward stacked roster with not much talent next year,

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If everyone with a player option opts out, the Clippers’ roster next year is going to look like Gallinari, Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, Jawun Evans and Sindarius Thornwell. Totally a group of guys LeBron would want to join.

Without Gallinari, though, this situation would become clearer. I would argue that Harris is the better and more reliable player AND he is cheaper. If LA strips down and leaves Harris alone this year, the will undoubtedly get a high draft pick as well.

Now, the Clippers sales pitch to superstars is much easier. A) We have the cap for at least two superstars, maybe even three. B) We have a proven scorer in Harris, a top three draft pick and key role players such as Patrick Beverley, who brings great defense. And C) we have flexibility in the lineup. The Clippers do not have flexibility with Gallinari.

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Then, and this is being optimistic, the Clippers have enough to convince LeBron James and DeMarcus Cousins to partner up in LA, perhaps bringing along a solid player like Nikola Mirotic. While it is being optimistic, it is at least possible without Gallinari. It is not possible now.

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