The ill-fated Clippers, after all, still have to think about next season first
Before the little card returns, George may have to be reimbursed for the season!
According to Jake Fischer, "The Clippers are preparing for George's non-return this season. ”
George suffered a torn ligament in his right elbow on December 26 last year, predicted to be reassessed 3-4 weeks later. In fact, George, who was recuperating at home afterwards, also played a few games with Reggie and conveyed all the messages of good luck to his teammates, and we didn't understand how to make the whole thing a season reimbursement.
It is said that the soldiers and horses have not moved, and the grain and grass have gone first, but this sentence is really helpless to put on the Clippers;
The return date of the small card this season is uncertain, and George is most likely to be reimbursed for the season, so this has to make the Clippers management think about next season in advance.
According to a Western Conference executive, "The Clippers are willing to accept the idea of falling out of the playoffs and restructuring next season, and they're starting to clear up the pay space and deal with player retention." ”
Previously, the Clippers traded Beverly, Rondo and O'Tulu to the Grizzlies in the offseason, saving Bledsoe $30 million in luxury taxes, but the team's luxury taxes still total $93.9 million.
As a result, the elderly and frail Ibaka became the first target of cleanup.
If they can send Ibaka before the trade deadline, the Clippers can save another $40 million in luxury taxes; considering the impact of the double nuclear injury and the team's poor record, Ballmer does not have to be stunned by these tens of millions, and Ibaka's departure in the middle of the season may be eight or nine.
So far this season, Ibaka has played in 23 games, averaging 16 minutes per game, scoring 6.3 points and 4 boards, shooting 47.1% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range;
It should not be difficult to find a home for Ibaka, and it is not easy to find the eldest brother and the third brother.
Of course, Ibaka's stay is the first step of the season, but it is definitely not the last step, according to further revelations from Western Conference executives, in the Clippers, in addition to the double core, only Mann is safe!
It also means that the Clippers will continue to dispose of other players' contracts in order to maximize the release of their salary space, while also making the team younger.
In this way, the Clippers are also preparing for a wave of small reconstructions in the middle. Collecting more potential stocks like Mann, sharing the pressure on the stars, and minimizing the risk of double core injury next season.
Although one small card is missing, the Clippers are still eighth in the West and the last train in the playoffs. Much of this is due to the hard work of George and a cadre of role players.
Before the injury, George averaged 24.7 points, 7.1 boards and 5.5 assists per game, which was once pushed into the list of regular season MVPs, but unfortunately he was too anxious to return after spraining his elbow, which eventually led to the tragedy of "high probability season reimbursement", indirectly sentenced to death for the Clippers' 21st season.
George's injury is a secondary injury worsening, for the purpose of protection, it is better to rest early, the surgical treatment is surgical treatment; until next season, the small card full of blood returns, the double front line returns, with a restructured team lineup, when the Clippers are still the favorite to win the championship.