Comments on: Clippers vs Kings Preview: Can the Clips Win an Easy One?

By: Thretch

Thretch — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:47:46 +0000

Really tall players typically have injury-riddled and/or short careers. Some exceptions (Kareem, Ojajuwon, Wilt, etc) but many more problematic ones. Especially the spindly guys.

So to smart money is on Wemby to have a limited career unfortunately.

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 03:24:11 +0000

Can you be too tall for b ball? Wemby mite be. I watched him go down tonite and those long ass spindly skinny legs just bend every which way–it’s just not a normal human proportion and it screams injuries like this– plus he’s way too aggressive — kind of a heroically dumb player actually. He should dial it down and save himself.

By: Thretch

Thretch — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 22:53:56 +0000

Agree, but the last 3 words (“avoiding further injuries”) are the crux of the issue. If Kawhi or James miss 5 games, we’re cooked. And that is very possible. So the idea of counting on “Catching some breaks” makes me very nervous. I’m willing to accept that we won’t catch enough breaks and admit we are “sellers”.

By: Thretch

Thretch — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:43:24 +0000

I agree. But I don’t think the FO does

Short version: A) The long term says the Kawhi-James-Zu core will not be effective in two years and B) the short term says they won’t be a contender this year or next.

So we should cut this core loose sooner rather than later. But the FO still believes LAC will have short term success and refuses to react. But it’ll be too late to react in the summer of 2027.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:22:49 +0000

I don’t think anyone here is advocating for trading Zu and building around Kawhi and Harden – at least I really hope not. I think if the Clips trade Zu it’d be because the FO got a ridiculously juicy offer and it’d be the start of a full rebuild that’d include sending Kawhi and Harden on their way too. It wouldn’t shock me if the Clips traded one or both of Kawhi and Harden but held onto Zu, but I’d be beyond pissed if they traded Zu and kept Kawhi and Harden.

By: chogokin

chogokin — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:17:28 +0000

I mean depends on what you mean by “run” – play-in spot? Sure, we could make a play-in spot w/ good injury luck (specifically for Kawhi and Harden). Top 6 seed? I would be beyond shocked if this team pulled that off, since they would have to rack up a 10+ game winning streak just to get back to .500.

By: khyber jones

khyber jones — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:21:21 +0000

A few thoughts on talk about trades to upgrade the roster:

New acquisitions tend to require a ramp up period and teams often drop games until they figure it out. We saw it happen with Bogi being added which coincided with Norm's injury. LAC dropped in the standings into the play in until they figured it out and had a great March to make the #6 seed. One could argue that had LAC not made any trades they would've had a higher seed.

This LAC team being 10 games under .500 simply has no margin for error. Another 3-5 game losing streak and they're completely cooked.

The notion that this LAC team could make something of this season to where they at least equaled last season's achievement is highly unlikely. The only way for it to happen is for no moves to be made and for the current group to build on the current momentum and turn this into something uniquely special. The fact that they will be adding Zu and Bogi back into the rotation gives them all the boost they'll need to optimize this squad if they are for real and catch some breaks from other teams dropping and LAC avoiding further injuries.

By: Jpo805

Jpo805 — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:59:20 +0000

The team is playing well right now but I’m still hesitant to get too excited over this win streak. If they win the next 3 against Utah, Bos and GS then I’ll feel this turn around is legit.

Regardless if this stellar plays continues through the rest of the season, I still think that the FO should trade Zu for future draft capital. Zu will be 30 when Kawhi and Harden’s contract end so this talk about building around Zu in the future is ridiculous IMO.

If the FO decides to make moves to improve the team this year, then they should look at getting a real SG that can handle the ball. Simons or Cam Thomas could fill that role.

By: Jpo805

Jpo805 — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:49:35 +0000

He will get better setting screens with more meaningful reps. He’s already light years ahead of Kai Jones in that department.

I like what I see from YKN and now understand why the FO took a gamble on him as opposed to taking a safer pick like Kalkbrenner, Raynaud, Wolf or Fleming. The potential is there but now it is up to the organization to develop him.

I’m sure Flom will shit over his performance over the last 4 games in the upcoming pod but then again everybody sucks in Flom’s eyes.

By: mlslaw1

mlslaw1 — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 16:42:05 +0000

Raynaud was xlnt. Positive impacts. But overall the Kings, as Robt. wrote, were basically dreadful. Not a lot to take from this. Utah, barely ahead of us, will be much tougher with Lauri, Keyonte and Sensabaugh. Another “must” win game upcoming. Sheesh. Would I change places, record wise, with the Lakes right now? At least they have a cushion so that they have no “must win” pressure on their backs rn. But, even when they get their guys back, I’d still take the clips (in their current form).

? for the group: Is it too late and is the hole too deep to make any sort of a run? I mean you can only spot the rest of the teams so many games, right?