Has the tables finally turned for the tumultuous LA Clippers?
As the curtains closed on one of the most depressing seasons in CSL history, the LA Clippers front office and ownership were ironically satisfied with how the team performed. Of course, the on-court product was miserable; the team's top scorer was Kevin Knox, a perennial empty-calorie scorer. The multitude of young players on the team performed shockingly poor, Jeremy Sochan included. And worst of all, the team's 3 year veteran Isaiah Taylor lost the lockerroom with his verbal disagreement with the team and his physical distancing from the team for the remainder of the season. 
In spite of all of that, ownership and front office executives were satisfied with the dismal season. Instead of hanging their heads on the atrocious season they just played, the team was looking towards the future. This was just year 1 of a true rebuild afterall. Albeit a historically appalling season, there were many things to look forward to come the offseason.
For starters, the LA Clippers landed the 1st, 5th, and 13th overall picks in the 1st Round of the 2032 draft. This would enable them to bolster their talentless roster with capable rookies. Additionally, with the retirement of Jae Crowder, the removal of Isaiah Taylor from the roster(one way or another), and the declination of Omer Yurtseven's team option, the team would be waltzing into Free Agency with nearly 30 million in cap space, making them key contenders in free agency.
The future looks significantly brighter for the LA Clippers than prior to Ramcus' takeover as general manager, as they have continued to acquire future assets for the team. Furthermore, the Clippers are expecting to have 12 picks in the next 3 seasons for yet another shot at acquiring better talent for the future prospects of the team. With such things to look towards in the future, its no wonder that the front office and ownership were calm despite the tumultuous season that had just transpired.
With the 1st Pick of the 2032 CSL Draft, the LA Clippers selected Jalen Williams, the 21 year old 6'5 195lbs wing out of Santa Clara. Williams, dubbed J-Dub by his peers and coaches, spent 3 years at Santa Clara developing his skills. And develop his skills he did, as Williams will step into the league as one of the most complete prospects in a long time. A total opposite from last year's 7th overall pick Jeremy Sochan, Jalen Williams does not share the inefficiency(or volume) that Sochan is[still] plagued with. Instead Williams is an astonishingly efficient scorer from all over the floor. At the rim, in the paint, with his in-between game, and even behind the arc, Williams shoots the ball with flaming accuracy. He aids this with impressive defensive potential, known for stonewalling his opposition with his quick lateral agility, long wingspan, and adept fundamentals. Along with these trait, Williams brings a capable handle and surprising rebounding at this size, and uses his powerful 6'5 frame to body himself into his opponents. All-in-all, Williams is the complete package. If scouts were to nitpick at him, they'd say he lacks the aggressiveness to be a true superstar, being closer to a 2nd or 3rd best player on a competitive team.
With the 5th Pick of the 2032 CSL Draft, the LA Clippers selected Paolo Banchero, the 21 year old 6'10 250lbs big out of Duke University. Banchero's selection at 5th overall was a startling one, not because he was drafted too high for his skillset, but because Banchero dropped out of what seemed to be a consensus top 4 in this year's draft class. The polished big man from Duke adds an intimidating skillset not unlike some of the best bigs of yesteryear. For starters Banchero has an elite scoring skillset and often looks to score from all over the floor. He is certainly capable from the middle of the floor and from behind the arc, but he is at his best inside the restricted area dominating less physically adept bigs. Additionally Banchero elevates his scoring by being a strong foul magnet. Defenders often just struggle to handle the physicality when Banchero is attacking where he is at his best. He also shows incredible potential as a rebounder. Add to this his ability to defend other bigs, and this man just plays like he's aware of his sheer size and knows how to use it. With the help of CSL trainers, Banchero will learn how to maximize his strengths and minimize his weaknesses, and with time become a dominant force in the paint.
With the 13th Pick of the 2032 CSL Draft, the LA Clippers selected Harold Yu, the 19 year old 7'3 300lbs big from China. A rawer prospects than most, Yu is not ready for the up-and-downs of a CSL season. Heck, many pundits predicted Yu to be drafted after the lottery, in the late teens or early twenties of the draft. Yu's most standout trait currently is his potential. As it stands, Harold Yu is unable to be an effective winning player throughout a full CSL season. That being said, with time and patience, the hope is that Yu will develop those skills. Yu flashes true potential as an elite defensive anchor, similar to the likes of Bruno Fernando or Daniel Gafford. He complements this with an efficient inside game, showing good touch around the rim when his point guard drops him the ball. All in all, Yu projects to be a 2-3 year project player who, if he reaches his potentials, will be an elite complementary piece on a competitive team.
With the draft in the rearview mirror, the LA Clippers front office will yet again be looking to make some moves. For starters, they are still looking for a franchise head coach. Tyrone Hill just finished his 1st season as a head coach after mulling around as an assistant since the 2014-2015 CSL season. It was a rather disappointing season for him and the Clippers, and they will not be looking to have him back. Instead, the focus is on a new, more permanent solution at the HC position. Someone who is young, shows promise, and can be given the opportunity to grow alongside this new young core of players. The focus is on building a team based not only on raw talent, but also on trust and compatibility. There will be more to come for the LA Clippers, this has just been the start of a new look for the team. The team has been in a rut for a while now, running through new ownership and new management like an addict at the casino. Here's to hoping that the team gets some stability for the new look Clippers.
