Comments on: Clippers 2022 Exit Interview: Luke Kennard

By: lying dog-faced pony soldier

lying dog-faced pony soldier — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 06:53:53 +0000

Maybe Luke will be the odd man out, or packaged with others. I’d personally like to see him remain a Clipper.

By: lying dog-faced pony soldier

lying dog-faced pony soldier — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 06:41:09 +0000

Have a hunch our great front office will make a move that may surprise. Expecting a Woj Bomb at some point in the next few months. If not a bombshell, I’m sure it will at least be a solid move that adds talent. I was walking my dogs at night when my phone lit up with the news that we were getting Kawhi and then shortly after that freakin’ PG. Just an electric moment.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 05:33:07 +0000

I like Luke a lot, and he’s basically lived up to my expectations since he got here – I was hoping he’d be a better Shamet, and he’s pretty much been that – but he’s almost certainly gonna be one of the pieces the Clips move in any kind of larger trade because of his contract and his actual legit value he brings to the table. It’s a shame because I think Luke would be great w/ some more spacing (i.e. w/ Kawhi, PG13 on the floor), but it just feels like at least 2 of MM, Luke, Mann, and Zu are gonna get shipped out if the Clips can find a “big swing” type of trade.

There will be plenty of time to ruminate on potential trades/signings after this season is over, and a lot can happen during the playoffs (e.g. a Jazz 1st round exit might result in a blow up), but I’ll be keeping my eye on Donovan Mitchell, Gobert, John Collins, Christian Wood, Myles Turner, and Collin Sexton.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:35:50 +0000

At this point Mook is pretty much Boris Diaw

Except he isn’t anywhere near the passer, rebounder, or defender Diaw was, and is a much better offensive threat, particularly in iso sets. Also, I’m not sure about using him to help w/ load management – he’s had his own injury issues over the years, and he isn’t getting any younger…

Edit: to clarify, I meant old-man Spurs Diaw, not springy, athletic freak Hawks Diaw.

By: dhpat

dhpat — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:16:56 +0000

Agreed Luke would be great with all the space that PG/KL would create for other players. However, every team has very good 3-pt shooters that can hit open shots, but what about when you have a defender breathing down your neck or having a hand in your face. Until Luke can hit 3pt shots with guys in his face, I’m not sure that he is worth what the Clippers are paying him.
Just for reference, Norm Powell’s contract extension is $90m for 5 years or avg. $18m/year. NP seems to be a better fit for his contract.

By: Robert Flom

Robert Flom — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 02:24:16 +0000

I still think it probably is an overpay just because I don’t value the player archetype as much, but he’s probably worth it on the open market

By: Robert Flom

Robert Flom — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 02:23:38 +0000

I don’t think the Clippers would trust Preston with the backup role next year

By: Robert Flom

Robert Flom — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 02:23:07 +0000

Yeah his defense is quite a bit better

By: John Maclean

John Maclean — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 01:10:42 +0000

I’m not enough of an expert to project how many better looks Luke would get under the pressure of a playoff game even with PG and Kawhi out there but most seem to believe he would so I will defer. I know that he’s bigger and more skilled than JJ was and he also seems to be far more clutch.

At this point Mook is pretty much Boris Diaw and I’m not sure what the market would be for him. I can’t see us getting an upgrade by moving him without attaching one of our kids and our seconder to the deal so I think he’s more valuable to us even if it’s situational and load management minutes.

Preston should be fine as a back up with Reggie, Terrence, Norm and PG also taking on ball-handling duties.

I think if there’s a deal to be made to upgrade the 4/5 position that’s when we consider putting some of our young talent and the second round pick on the table.

By: osamu6238

osamu6238 — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 00:12:49 +0000

His extension did kind of seem like an overpay at the time, I think mostly because we hadn’t even seen him line up in a Clipper uniform yet. He was a solid shooter in Detroit, but not like best in the league type of shooter. Just seemed like they were bidding against themselves, and there wasn’t a strong market for Luke.

As soon as I saw him hitting like 45% of his 3’s in the Clipper uniform, any question of that being a bad contract was out the door for me. Top 5 sniper in the league doesn’t come cheap. JJ Redick, Joe Harris, Bertans (at least one season), these guys get paid a lot of money to do one thing well, and Luke is right up there with them as the best shooters in the league. Luke to me is already just at a talent level of like prime JJ Redick, it’s just a matter of him being on a team with so much depth that he doesn’t quite get up the shots or the playing time to be like a 16 pt/game scorer like we saw in JJ’s time with the Clippers.

It would really hurt to see him traded, so I almost hope nothing happens this summer. As discussed above, I think the Clips do have too many great players, so maybe Luke is the odd man out, but that would be a very tough pill to swallow.