Not seeing it. Gasol took a step back defensively last year. Conley isn't a superstar and whoever they get at 4 probably isn't going to be an immediate contributor (maybe Doncic). As a small market they need to bottom out for stars under years of team control.
I hope they do compete this year so their pick rolls over to 2020 for us. Less protection and hopefully a better draft class when both Gasol and Conley are aging out.
Well, at least there was one piece of useful information in this thread.
not really. if they compete, well enough not to finish in the bottom 8, the pick conveys next draft.
I think there's enough talent in Memphis to finish outside the bottom 8 so I think that pick will be coming over next year. The Clips pick, lottery protected the next 2 years, may never convey as a first since the Clips aren't looking playoff worthy without CP3 or Griffin on that roster.
C's are probably looking at a Sac pick 2-5, Memphis pick 10-16 and their own pick 26-30 next year. A decent spread throughout the draft.
I think you’re underrating the Clippers. They had a ton of injuries, and had to start late 2nd-rounders at PG for half the season because of them, and stil finished with a winning record. If they can stay reasonably healthy this year (which is a definite if given some of their core players’ history) the playoffs is a solid possibility, assuming Jordan doesn’t leave. They have a lot of money invested in the team, Ballmer wants to win, as does Doc, and they’re good enough to not be a bottom-feeder. I’d say it’s at least 50-50 we get that pick in the next two seasons.
Meanwhile, it’s very difficult for me to see Memphis being better than 12th in the West next year. Conley and Gasol are great, but they’re also on the downside, and the rest of the roster is rather thin. If they get Doncic, perhaps that will give them an immediate boost, but otherwise I think that’s a team that will have a difficult time getting over the hump this year.