freenovelworld Chapter 504 Reinforcement Completed
Chapter 504 Reinforcement Completed
The Clippers practically gave Boban away for free, but they didn't feel like they lost out at all.
It's not entirely free; the 76ers have secured their second-round pick for next year. Considering Jia Fei's exceptional expertise in the draft, that relatively low-ranking second-round pick might even help them acquire more excellent players!
On July 4, Paul George signed a four-year, $1.37 million contract extension with the Clippers!
This is a max contract; Paul George's average salary exceeds $3000 million. But there's nothing you can do about it. If you don't give him a max contract, other teams are willing to offer him one, and if he leaves, you, as his original team, will get nothing.
The Lakers missed out on getting Paul George, losing the chance to acquire him for free. However, they are not hopeless at all. The Clippers' star player is reportedly eyeing Los Angeles' school district properties. Considering the Clippers' lack of cap space and his recent loss to the Finals, the Lakers are practically his only option if he wants to settle in Los Angeles.
The Lakers are a powerhouse team with a tradition of signing superstars outright. They don't have the patience to slowly develop rookies. This powerhouse team has been in decline for too long. They are tired of being compared to the Clippers. They don't want to be called a bottom-feeder team anymore, and they don't want to keep tanking.
If they can acquire Running Man on the free agent market, they can cash in on their assets, bring in another superstar, and complete their rebuild.
The Lakers' status as a franchise combined with the Los Angeles market is enough to attract many big names. For instance, the school district properties here have already caught the eye of that Akron son who's always running away...
The Clippers' moves weren't over yet. Later that same day, after re-signing Paul George, they retained Montrezl Harrell with a two-year, $16 million contract.
Retaining Harrell, a member of the Clippers' bench pick-and-roll duo, on a mid-level exception salary is a smart move no matter how you look at it. He's still young, and his contract is short-term, making it unlikely to become a bad contract.
However, short interior players with defensive weaknesses cannot be given big, long-term contracts. Such players decline very quickly once they start to decline, just like Kenneth Faried back in the day.
Harrell was not actually in Jia Fei's future plans. In Jia Fei's previous life, Harrell left the Clippers after they were defeated in the bubble game.
In Jia Fei's vision, it's okay if a small center who can't shoot doesn't have a pick-and-roll and violently dunks; this offensive method is acceptable and fits the "Moreyball" style—it's not only efficient but also dangerous for the opponent. The problem lies on the defensive end. While it's understandable that a small player might have poor rim protection, failing to switch on defense, lacking defensive awareness, and not being proactive are unforgivable.
If we're just talking about offense, we can let the perimeter players take the lead, because the poor defense in the paint is indeed too fatal.
Jia Fei doesn't have a high demand for inside players. Their team is built around their perimeter players, so the role of the inside players is relatively simple. However, at the very least, their defense cannot be a liability. If the inside defense is weak, it will put them in a very passive position.
With the trade of Boban Marjanovic, the Clippers have a free roster spot, allowing them to look for a suitable power forward to strengthen their roster.
Although the Clippers didn't make any major moves this summer, they added young players without dismantling their championship-contending roster and without losing future assets, making them the healthiest team among championship contenders.
On July 5th, according to renowned reporter Shams, the Clippers signed free agent Jeff Green to a contract!
This news immediately caused a huge stir in the free agent market. Jeff Green isn't a big name in free agency, but the fact that he's been linked to the Clippers makes it big news!
Jeff Green!
Clippers fans haven't forgotten that in the recently concluded Finals, this forward's explosiveness put considerable pressure on their weak interior defense.
Compared to Love, Jeff Green is more balanced on both offense and defense, making him a better fit for today's small-ball era.
Jeff Green is 32 years old, but he is in very good physical condition. He had heart surgery years ago, which made many teams hesitant to sign him to long-term contracts due to concerns about his injury history.
During his one season with the Cavaliers, he showcased outstanding physical attributes and all-around skills, playing a crucial role in the Cavaliers' victory over the Celtics and advancement to the NBA Finals.
Many people don't have a strong impression of Jeff Green. He came from the prestigious Georgetown University and was selected 5th overall in the first round of the 2007 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was one of the original "Thunder Big Three" before being traded back to the Celtics.
Jeff Green is a swingman at the 3/4 position. When he first entered the league, he was known as an "oddball" forward. He was known for his versatility at Georgetown University, being able to do everything and having a well-rounded skill set. He has explosive athleticism and the potential to become a star player.
However, in Oklahoma City, the team focused on developing Durant, which to some extent hindered his development. As a role player, his versatility became somewhat lackluster, as the team didn't offer him many opportunities to showcase his abilities, and he indeed lacked a killer move.
In today's small-ball era, versatile forwards like Jeff Green have become increasingly sought after. He can execute unlimited switching defense, has excellent athleticism for fast breaks, has a three-point shot to support a five-outside lineup, and has some ball-handling and isolation ability to punish mismatches.
However, many weak teams don't need this kind of player because they are too old to be developed and their 3D attributes are not that strong as role players.
The Clippers getting Jeff Green on a minimum contract is an absolute steal. While Green isn't the ideal power forward, at this price, what more could you ask for?
Jeff Green is Gallinari's insurance, making the Clippers' roster more balanced.
With the acquisition of Jeff Green, the Clippers' 15-man roster is complete!
The full list is as follows:
Inside players: Olynyk, Art Mayork, Harrell, Hartenstein
Wings: Jia Fei, Paul George, Dillon, Gallinari, Bridges, Jeff Green
Guards: Beverley, Lou Williams, White, Brunson, Bruce Brown
They've lost one center and gained a wing player. With Jeff Green, the Clippers will have more options when playing small lineups; they could even field a five-forward lineup with JaVale James, Paul George, Dillon Danny Green, and Danilo Gallinari!
Four centers are actually more than enough. With more and more teams in the league playing small lineups these days, many teams don't even have a proper center anymore; they're using small forwards to play power forwards, and vice versa. Many pure centers are finding it hard to find work, their jobs taken by former power forwards.