Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Small Forwards to Push the Team to the Playoffs
The Los Angeles Clippers have finally broken a long chain of mediocrity, and look to be primed for future success with rising superstars Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon leading the charge.
The Clippers have put together a strong core of young players including Griffin, Gordon, Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan. However, they still have a major hole to fill at the small forward position, which Ryan Gomes occupied last season despite averaging just 7.2 PPG and 3.3 RPG.
Although the Clippers also have Al-Farouq Aminu at the position, Aminu is still developing and has a long way to go before he is ready to be a starter in the NBA.
The Clippers should target a new small forward during the upcoming offseason (whenever it may occur) to help the team compete in the West. The following five small forwards would be excellent fits on the Clippers and could help lead the team back to the playoffs.
Tayshaun Prince (Unrestricted Free Agent)
1 of 62010-11 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.8 APG in 32.8 MPG
Tayshaun Prince, a long, versatile small forward who has spent the last nine seasons of his career as a member of the Detroit Pistons, is now an unrestricted free agent and should attract plenty of attention around the league.
Prince is an excellent defender with a serviceable offensive game, and has been widely considered to be one of the most underrated players in the NBA.
Prince would be a great fit on the Clippers, as he would give the team size, defensive focus and a veteran presence.
His elite athleticism would make an already incredibly athletic Clippers frontcourt even more formidable, and his play could be pivotal in pushing the Clippers back into the top half of the Western Conference.
Josh Smith (Trade)
2 of 62010-11 Stats: 16.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.3 APG in 34.4 MPG
Clippers get: Josh Smith
Hawks get: Chris Kaman, Al Farouq-Aminu
Josh Smith, a combo-forward currently playing on the Atlanta Hawks, is widely considered to be one of the league's most versatile forwards.
Smith has spent the majority of his career playing the power forward position for the Hawks, but has played small forward more frequently in recent years and has proven to be very comfortable in the role.
Smith was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2010, due to his exceptional skill as both a shot blocker and a ball thief. Smith is also a formidable offensive player and a high-flyer.
Imagine if the Clippers had a starting frontcourt of Josh Smith, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
Layups would officially become extinct.
Nicolas Batum (Sign-and-Trade)
3 of 62010-11 Stats: 12.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.5 APG in 31.5 MPG
Clippers get: Nicolas Batum
Blazers get: DeAndre Jordan
The Clippers need to find their small forward of the future, and the Portland Trail Blazers could use a healthy center to give them a chance at playoff success.
Although the Blazers already have Marcus Camby and Greg Oden at the center position, Camby is nearing the end of his career and Oden's health is an enormous question mark. The Blazers were often forced to start LaMarcus Aldridge at the five last season, and could use a reliable center to pair with Aldridge and hold down the middle.
The Clippers already have Chris Kaman at center, and although Kaman has been encircled by trade rumors as of late, the Clippers could opt to keep Kaman and deal Jordan for one of the most promising young small forwards in the NBA.
Batum is a fantastic defender and incredibly athletic, and when focused offensively can be a serious threat. His already excellent jump shot has improved significantly in each of his three seasons in the league, and Batum has been said to have superstar potential.
With the arrival of Gerald Wallace in Portland, the Blazers could be willing to let go of Batum in order to bolster the center position.
Wilson Chandler (Restricted Free Agent)
4 of 62010-11 Stats: 15.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.7 APG in 33.3 MPG
Wilson Chandler is currently a restricted free-agent for the Denver Nuggets, and although he contributed at a high level for the Nuggets last season, they could be willing to let him go if the Clippers made a large enough qualifying offer.
Chandler would certainly be worth the money, as he is a dynamic scorer at the small forward position who has drawn comparisons to Carmelo Anthony.
Chandler has good range and excels at attacking the rim, and could play spot minutes at the shooting guard and power forward positions as well.
Andre Iguodala (Trade)
5 of 62010-11 Stats: 14.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.3 APG in 36.9 MPG
Clippers get: Andre Iguodala
Sixers get: Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu
Andre Iguodala has frequently been linked to the Clippers in trade speculation, with the deal shown above being the most popular proposal.
The Clippers would get one of the top small forwards in the league while ridding themselves of Chris Kaman, which would officially tag DeAndre Jordan as the center of the future.
Iguodala is one of the top point forwards in the NBA, and would provide the Clippers with a secondary distributor in the starting lineup. He is also an explosive finisher, a lock-down defender and a proven clutch performer.
The Sixers would also benefit from this deal, as they would finally get the starting-caliber center they have been searching for, while also receiving a potential replacement for Iguodala in Aminu.
Thanks for Reading!
6 of 6Who should the Clippers target to address their need at small forward? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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