Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

The Chicago Bulls can learn something from the Los Angeles Clippers

By Luke Askew

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Landry Shamet #20 of the LA Clippers shoots a three point basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bulls have struggled all season long while the Los Angeles Clippers have been a surprising success. Here’s what Chicago can learn from L.A.

The Chicago Bulls were dealing with lofty expectations heading into the 2018-19 season. They signed Jabari Parker, they drafted Wendell Carter Jr., Zach LaVine was finally healthy and Lauri Markkanen was coming off a brilliant rookie season. Some optimistic fans could smell the playoffs before the season even started.

Of course, any playoff dreams were essentially shattered when Markkanen injured his elbow in practice before the season started. After watching the rest of this season, though, we can confidently say the Bulls wouldn’t have been a playoff team even if Markkanen was healthy from the start.

The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, had fairly low expectations heading into the season. They were a team comprised primarily of young guys and rotation players. In a loaded Western Conference, there was no way that team was making the playoffs, right?

Wrong.

The Clippers have already clinched a spot in the playoffs and could realistically finish as high as the No. 5 seed.

The Clippers’ success was making a little bit of sense when the consistently underrated Tobias Harris developed into an All-Star caliber player. But when the Clippers traded Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers, it seemed like they were giving up on the playoffs.

Wrong again.

The Clippers have been one of the hottest teams in the league post-All-Star break and are a dangerous matchup for whoever has to face them in the first round. Remember: they don’t have a single All-Star. How have they done it?

For starters, they play hard-nosed basketball on a nightly basis. Often times, that’s enough to win a game on any given night in the NBA – especially if you have a moderate amount of talent. Sure, the Clippers don’t have any of the league’s biggest names, but don’t be mistaken – they have talent. Two of their starters (Ivica Zubac and Landry Shamet) were basically dropped in their hands as giveaways from the Lakers and the Sixers.

Zubac is a young, talented big man that the Lakers gave away for… Mike Muscala. Yep – that happened. Shamet was basically a throw-in in the Tobias Harris trade, leaving Sixers fans baffled. Why would Philly throw in a 22-year-old sharpshooter who can handle the ball and make plays?

Regardless of the head-scratching ways the Clippers acquired those two guys, they did it, and they’re better for it.

So how does all of this affect the Bulls?

It doesn’t directly affect the Bulls, but if Chicago’s front office is smart, they’re watching the Clippers and taking notice of what’s working. The biggest thing the Bulls can take from the Clippers’ success? Young, cheap guards that can shoot are always important.

Since joining the Clippers, Shamet is shooting an incredible 43.8% from 3-point range on six attempts per game. That’s a lot for a guy that only averages 27.6 minutes per game. Per 36 minutes, he’s shooting 7.8 threes. Sheesh.

Not only has Shamet been an astounding addition to the Clippers, but he’s an unbelievable value. This season, he’s making less than $2 million and he’s still set to be under the $2 million mark next season.

No, Shamet isn’t a make-or-break guy. He’s not a star player that you can build your team around. But getting young guys on cheap deals that can step in and contribute right away is extremely important.

Chicago likely won’t be drafting in the later part of the first round in 2019 (unless they make some moves), but guys like Shamet will still be available in the second round for the Bulls to grab. They just have to find them.

Building a successful team doesn’t end in the lottery or even the first round. Sure, Chicago’s lottery pick is more important than their second-rounder, but they can’t treat their second-round pick like a trivial piece. They have to treat every draft pick as if it’s going to make a difference in the team’s future success. That means looking for guys like Shamet – guys that are ready to step in and make a positive impact on a playoff team.

If the Bulls can’t find a guy like that in the draft, they should remain active in free agency and trade discussions in an attempt to steal that type of player from other potential suitors. You know, sort of like the Clippers did.

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