Fansided

Doc Rivers’ 5 biggest mistakes as Clippers president of operations

By John Buhler

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a call during the second half of Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center at Staples Center on April 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a call during the second half of Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center at Staples Center on April 25, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Joe Ingles signing to stay in Utah was a highlight of the first weekend of NBA free agency in 2017.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 23: Joe Ingles #2 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a late three-point basket as the Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 105-98 in Game Four of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 23, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

2. Waiving Joe Ingles

You’re starting to see a trend here. Rivers is not a man who believes a great deal in karma. The Joe Ingles saga in Los Angeles ended with a terrible PR move for the Clippers. Let’s go back to 2014: Ingles is an Australian native about to make his first NBA team with the Clippers.

As Ingles’ wife was about to come over to watch him play his first NBA season game, Rivers cut Ingles on the final day of camp. Upon her arrival, Ingles was a free agent wing unsigned to a professional basketball team.

Ingles would sign a small salary with the Utah Jazz to play for former outcast coach Quin Snyder in Salt Lake City. Utah was in the midst of a rebuild, but Snyder had a reputation as a great developer of on-court talent. Los Angeles’ trash became the Jazz’s treasure, but Utah would come up a game short of getting the No. 8 seed in the 2016 Western Conference Playoffs.

In 2017, Utah won the Northwest Division crown and the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. The Jazz faced the Clippers in the conference quarterfinals as the slight underdog in the series. Utah would upend Los Angeles in Game 7 at the Staples Center to advance to the conference semifinals.

That’s the last game the Clippers have played as an organization. Ingles was a sixth man candidate in his third year in the league. He turned the last three years into a massive contract with Utah. If Ingles isn’t the one former Clippers player Rivers gave up on too early, who else would it be? Utah doesn’t beat Los Angeles last year without Ingles playing a huge role for the Jazz.

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