Los Angeles Clippers are a better destination than the New York Knicks
By Jason Reed
![LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 04: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakersat Staples Center on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 04: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakersat Staples Center on March 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1d26bd7849f687973835468abe0773c4d9f8a8c614daea067c8330cf3fa07fdc.jpg)
Right now the focus might be on the NBA Playoffs but the Los Angeles Clippers potentially have big things in store for this offseason as well.
The Los Angeles Clippers have shocked the NBA world and are heading to the NBA Playoffs despite this year appearing to be an “in-between year” for the franchise.
Backed by some great performances and some excellent coaching from Doc Rivers, the Clippers are the sixth seed in the Western Conference and with just four games remaining appear to have that spot locked in.
Right now the Clippers’ first-round matchup in the playoffs would be the Portland Trailblazers, who certainly are a beatable team with Jusuf Nurkic out. However, tied with Portland is the Houston Rockets, who would give the Clippers a tough (but fun to watch) challenge.
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Nobody really expects the Clippers to make it that far in the playoffs but it would be nice to see the team win in the first round, especially if it means shocking former Clipper Chris Paul and the Rockets.
And while that would be great to see, the real focus of the team is not to win a title this year, it is to capitalize on the cap space the team is set to have this offseason and bring in some superstar free agents.
The Clippers have quite the competitor in the other massive media market, the New York Knicks, who also have the cap space to add two superstars. Both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have been tied to the Knicks, although the Clippers are the much better destination.
First of all, the roster is simply better in LA. While that could change if the Knicks get the first overall pick and Zion Williamson, as it stands right now the Clippers are better.
The team has a potential future all-star point guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the best sixth man (and probably a top-six shooting guard), Lou Williams. Montrezl Harrell brings the intensity down low, Ivica Zubac was a sneaky good pick up and Danilo Gallinari is playing lights out.
The most promising players returning to the Knicks are Dennis Smith Jr, Kevin Knox, Allonzo Trier and Frank Ntilikina. All four of those guys are just promising at this point and are not the most compelling young players.
And let’s not even get started with ownership and coaching. Although he burned Blake Griffin and that could have left a lasting impression, Steve Ballmer is an involved owner who has really seemed to figure out how to properly conduct himself as the owner of an NBA team.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have James Dolan, who does not have a great reputation around the league. Doc Rivers is a coach of the year candidate for the Los Angeles Clippers while David Fizdale, although he is respected, has not proven himself as a good NBA head coach.
The one issue with the Clippers is that despite it being in Los Angeles it still is the second team to the Lakers and whoever plays for the Clippers would naturally be in LeBron’s shadow.
However, this would be a great opportunity for a star like Kevin Durant to come to the Clippers, but LeBron in HIS shadow and finally give the Clippers the respect the team deserves in Los Angeles.
We try to call everything down the middle here at LA Sports Hub and right now the Clippers are the better team but the Lakers still rule the media landscape and the fanbase dwarfs the Clippers’. That could change with another great period like Lob City in which the team actually wins it all.
Next. Doc Rivers should be coach of the year. dark
The City of Angels is just as appealing as the Big Apple and will produce more entertainment opportunities and outside revenue, which is just another stake in the Los Angeles Clippers’ claim to two stars.