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Before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19, the Los Angeles Clippers were in second place in the Western Conference standings with a record of 44-20. The team was a title contender with superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading the way.
Leonard was putting up 26.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his first season back home in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, George was averaging 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 42 games after missing the beginning of the season recovering from his two offseason shoulder surgeries.
Clipper fans are PRAYING the season resumes because this was the first time a Clipper squad had a legit shot of winning the championship. The Clippers are one of the few NBA organizations that has never played in an NBA Finals before.
As each day passes, it seems like the 2019-20 NBA season is going to get canceled altogether. With that said, here are three moves the Clippers must make whenever the 2020 offseason period starts.
3. Re-sign Montrezl Harrell
Harrell becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Clippers have to do whatever it takes to bring him back.
Even though the Clippers will likely end up in the luxury tax if they re-sign Harrell, it will be worth it since he's a monster off the bench for the club.
Before the 2019-20 season was suspended due to COVID-19, Harrell was averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists for the Clippers. He was also shooting 58.0 percent from the field and 65.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Harrell has career NBA averages of 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He was the 32nd overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The energy that he plays with is contagious and the Clippers would be losing a part of their identity and spirit if Harrell was to leave.
2. Re-sign Marcus Morris
The Clippers sent a first-round pick to the New York Knicks for Morris at the 2020 trade deadline, so it would be tough for the organization to watch the swingman leave in free agency after only appearing in 12 games with Los Angeles.
The Clippers will have the non-bird rights on Morris, which means they can pay him up to $18 million in year one of his next contract based on his $15 million salary for the 2019-20 season.
Morris averaged 15.8 points in 12 games with the Clippers. He shot 38.6 percent from the field and 28.3 percent from beyond the arc.
1. Extend Lou Williams
Williams — the best bench scorer arguably in NBA history — was making $8 million this season. He's set to make the same amount in 2020-21 and then will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason of 2021.
The Clippers need to extend Williams as soon as possible. The three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner has already said he wants to retire with the franchise.
Before the 2019-20 season was suspended, Williams was averaging 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He was shooting 41.6 percent from the floor, 36.3 percent from the 3-point line and 86.3 percent from the charity stripe.
The Clippers will obviously go as far as Leonard and George can take them once the playoffs start, but Los Angeles won't win a championship without Lou averaging close to 20.0 points per game in the playoffs. Doc Rivers and Co. shouldn't even risk the chance of losing Williams in free agency.
Since arriving to the Clippers in the Chris Paul trade in the summer of 2017, Williams has averaged 20.6 points in 214 regular-season games.
