Prior to the LA Clippers recent run of playoff appearances and wins from 2012-2017, the most exciting postseason run came during the 2005-06 season when LA defeated the Denver Nuggets in the first round, 4-1, and fell just short of beating the Phoenix Suns in Game 7 of the second round. One of the main catalysts for that run was Corey Maggette, who finished his NBA career playing eight of his 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The former Clippers forward averaged 17.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.8 steals over his eight seasons in Los Angeles. In fact, his best season came in 2004-05, when he averaged career-highs with 22.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
Now, Maggette works as one of the broadcasters on Fox Sports pre-game and post-game shows for Clippers games. He's had a front-row seat to the roller coaster of a season LA had from the roster upheaval and injuries to the victories over more talented teams and the rise of a number of players performing better than expected. Maggette spoke to ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview about the Clippers season, Doc Rivers, Tobias Harris, and more.
Tomer Azarly: What are your overall thoughts on the team you watch and talk about on a daily basis, the LA Clippers, who fell just a handful of games short of a playoff spot.
Corey Maggette: First of all, I would say that Doc Rivers has done a tremendous job coaching. If you look at what he's done, the body of work he's had over his last 10 years as a coach, he's been a playoff contender, he's been an NBA Champion. He's had multiple playoff appearances, and I think this year was the first time where, in the past, you had guys like Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and a roster that you look at and say ‘they're basically going to make it.' This year, he didn't have that on his roster. Doc Rivers really had to coach again. It's almost like he had to challenge himself to be a better coach, and I think this year, he has done that. He's exceeded expectations, and even though they didn't make the playoffs, his team is still two games over .500, so it's not even a losing season.
I think you had a lot of the G-League guys like Ty Wallace, C.J. Williams have that stepped up after being thrown in the fire and getting the opportunity.
Lou Williams came in and averaged 23 points, and he should definitely be the unanimous Sixth Man of the Year. You have Montrezl Harrell who, basically in the first 20 games of the season, did not get in the game. He was sitting on the bench. He ended up being one of the fastest scoring guys off the bench per 48 minutes.
Austin Rivers, having a career numbers in the way he played. DeAndre Jordan being DJ. You take a lot of the positives.
The negative part of this team is can they stay healthy. Milos went out. Gallinari has been out basically the entire season. You dont have Patrick Beverley, you dont have Avery Bradley. If you have Patrick Beverley or Avery Bradley this season, they would definitely be in the playoffs because you got two dogs that will guard and pressure you 94 feet.
Health is wealth for this Clippers team. It's going to be a big decision on what Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank, Jerry West… what are they going to do this offseason to figure out this team's direction. Again, I really did like this team, I like that they played extremely hard. That's one thing you can say. You didn't have the superstar name on his team, but every single night, this team played extremely hard and gave the fans something to look forward to next season.
TA: They've had injury after injury. It's insane. Have you ever seen anything like this?
CM: I definitely have seen it over the last 3 years with the Clippers. You look at the last few years, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were out in key parts during the season, and then Jamal Crawford would try to help lead the team. They've just honestly had bad luck the last three years, but they've still been a playoff team. They were still 50-win teams. This year, they have 42 wins.
Health is wealth. They've got to figure out how to keep those guys healthy, and maybe bring in a little more veteran leadership that can really help them get to the next level.
TA: Obviously, it was a shocker trading Blake Griffin, but how do you think Tobias Harris fit in his half-season with the Clippers?
CM: You know what, I was a huge Tobias Harris fan. I was actually lobbying for them to try and get Tobias Harris because they didn't have a person at that three-position that could stretch the floor. Tobias Harris, who is one of the top three point shooters in this league, if you added that to Blake Griffin and Chris Paul… Man, that is a dominant, dominant team.
But just bringing in Tobias, he has done an unbelievable job playing for this team. I've never experienced it, but to be traded that way during the season… It's hard. You've got to fit in, you've got to find your rhythm, it's a new surrounding, new coaching staff. It's all new. Tobias came in like he had already been there. He's been averaging over 19 points the entire season. What a huge pickup for the Clippers team. Hopefully, they can keep him because this is a guy you want to keep for at least the next five years because of his shooting ability, his professionalism.
TA: Do you think this Clippers team, as constructed deserves a chance to come back next year, try to be healthy, have a training camp, and make a run for the playoffs? Or do you think they need to make a change?
CM: Possibly. If I'm looking at it from a managerial standpoint, they have to find a way to keep DeAndre Jordan because he's one of the most productive and active bigs in the league. You bring back Lou Williams, you bring back Tobias Harris, you have a healthy Patrick Beverley, Avery Bradley is a restricted free agent, but that's another guy I would probably try to being back. Have a defensive stopper and a guy who can stretch the floor as well. Gotta bring back Montrezl Harrell as well.
From there, you have to make a decision. Can you bring back that same team, healthy, and really compete? Yes. If that entire team is 100% healthy, they will be a top five or six playoff team in the West. It's almost like the curse of the Clippers with these injuries. I think if you look at those track records, multiple guys on that team have a history of injuries. Those are things you have to look at from a managerial standpoint.
TA: I'll close out with one more question: Lou Williams… Is he your Sixth Man of the year for sure?
CP (with a laugh): 100%, I'd bet my life on it right now. I'd bet my life on it.
In Part I of his exclusive interview with ClutchPoints, Maggette discussed his second season with the BIG3, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, the Cavs, Warriors, and more!
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