Smile Austin. . .You’re joining Daddy in Hollywood!
One of the biggest under-achieving teams over the last three seasons, has been the Los Angeles Clippers. From firing Vinny Del Negro and exiling former owner Donald Sterling in just the last 24 months, the team entered this season with aspirations of solidifying themselves as a legitimate title contender. The team has completely changed their bench trading away both swingmen Reggie Bullock and Chris Douglas-Roberts, as well as waiving Jordan Farmar to acquire former Duke sharpshooter Austin Rivers. He now joins head coach Doc Rivers, to form the league’s first ever father-son tandem on the same team together.
While Doc has input in making player movements and decision making regarding the roster, he’s taking a huge risk on his own son with this team shake up. The Clippers unfortunately have to rely on Matt Barnes to guard the best wing-player every night, as their back-up three position has been all but depleted. Coach Rivers is looking at Austin as the missing component off the bench the team has been without this year, since the exit of former back-up point guard Darren Collison. Since his time with the Pelicans during a tender three-year stint in New Orleans; the 22-year-old guard has seen minimized play, fighting for time on the court with Eric Gordon and Jrue Holiday.
With the team still missing a swing-three, the Clippers will unfortunately have undersized Jamal Crawford running the small-forward position at times, enabling Austin to play either the two-guard with Chris Paul on the court or at point guard with fellow Blue Devil J.J. Redick riding shotgun. For a team approaching the 2015 season as a championship or bust year, Los Angeles is taking a huge gamble with the trade above.
Rivers could play in his first game as a Clipper tonight against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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