NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 reasons the Los Angeles Clippers need to blow it up

By John Buhler | Apr 30, 2017

Apr 12, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and guard Chris Paul (3) react during a NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Kings 115-95. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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April 18, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers watches game action against the Utah Jazz during the first half in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Doc Rivers can’t build a championship team, nor develop role players

While Griffin is the on-court scapegoat in some capacity, nobody deserves more blame for the Clippers’ inability to get it done that head coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers. The whole reason former owner Donald Sterling brought Rivers to Los Angeles in the first place was to take this team to heights that Vinny Del Negro never could.

Since arriving in Los Angeles in 2013, Rivers has only won two playoff series with the Clippers. They beat the Golden State Warriors in 2014 before Steve Kerr arrived in the Bay Area. Rivers’ other playoff series win leading the Clippers came against a so-so San Antonio Spurs team in 2015. Even that series went to seven. San Antonio was only a No. 6 seed that April.

It is just a lack of any real playoff success that ensures Rivers’ departure from the Clippers. He has proven to be completely over his skis in terms of building a basketball team. His promotion to president of basketball operations was an odd one.

Rather than focusing on internal player development, Rivers spent most of his time signing former Celtics or players that were good against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Playoffs when he was Boston’s head coach. Outside of his own son Austin and Jordan at center, what player has Rivers made better in Los Angeles?

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Hats off to Luc Richard Mbah A Moute for being the best small forward in recent history of Clippers basketball. Rivers could never figure out the three until semi-reluctantly giving Mbah A Moute a shot at the starting job. While he faced massive expectations in Los Angeles, Rivers failed to live up to them and now he has to go.

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