And I think letting PG walk for nothing was absolutely the best plan. None of the theoretical offers for him were very good.

The question I’ve had all year is whether the Clippers should hold onto their value contract veterans and do their best to compete, or to try to reaccumulate assets at the deadline by trading DJJ, Dunn, Amir, Norm, etc. For the long-term outlook of the team, I honestly think trading a couple of those guys to get a ton of second round picks and/or a swap or protected firsts back in the door would probably be best, but that does not seem to be this team’s MO.

Moving on from PG was the right move. The questions is whether we should have just let him walk for nothing to get under the aprons for more maneuverability, or try to get some assets back for him. We’d have been able to re-sign Harden, Zu and Mann regardless so what we’re really talking about was the MLE, BAE and combining players to trade etc. The front office has done a wonderful job according to this plan but what I still grapple with is if we shouldn’t have been more willing to sign and trade PG which likely would have brought us back better assets even if we did remain over the aprons.

Perhaps PG wouldn’t have done a sign and trade with Minnesota but I would have taken KAT back in a heartbeat for PG. The Wolves would have jumped at this far quicker than settling for Randle too. We wouldn’t have DJJ and Nico, but we would have had a front line of Towns, Zu and Kawhi right now. That’s serious business right there.

Even a trade with Denver likely could have landed us MPJ and Braun or Watson and a 1st rounder. Can’t imagine PG would have blocked that deal. Perhaps Denver wouldn’t have wanted that financial commitment.

The Warriors were definitely interested and although it sounds like they (smartly) were not willing to give up Kuminga, we could have probably gotten old Klay on a two year, Morris and a 1st rounder or so.

Miami was another place to go fishing and getting Tyler Herro in return should have been possible with him coming off injury. Look at him now.

At that same time Chicago was willing to offer a couple second rounders to get off of Zach’s contract so there may have been a reality for a three team deal to land us both LaVine and Herro for PG.

I know it’s always woulda, coulda, shoulda for us fans who don’t have to broker such deals, but if we don’t somehow take advantage of our flexibility to make some moves at the deadline letting PG walk for nothing will have been a major blunder.

Longterm planning is smart but no winner in life is making plans for two years from now because too many things can happen. This is why we see the Lakers and Warriors constantly pushing and swinging for the fences. Seems like we’re kind of paralyzed right now and it’s a bit frustrating. Guys are clearly getting burned out and hitting a wall so we need to do something sooner than later or we won’t even make the play in.

If management isn’t careful the Clippers and intuit could turn into one of those Chinese Ghost cities where billions were invested in replicas of western high rises that no one wants to live in.

Appreciate the sober analysis you always offer Rob. I think it invites more critical thinking and discourse. Rare in todays NBA media.