2019–20 Los Angeles Clippers season

The 2019–20 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 50th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 42nd season in Southern California, and their 36th season in Los Angeles.

2019–20 Los Angeles Clippers season
Head coachDoc Rivers
General managerMichael Winger
OwnersSteve Ballmer
ArenaStaples Center
Results
Record49–23 (.681)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Pacific)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Nuggets 3–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKCOP-TV
Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket
RadioKLAC

On July 5, 2019, 2-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard agreed to join the Clippers, on the condition that the team trade for 6-time NBA All-Star Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Also during the offseason, they re-signed two-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection Patrick Beverley and three-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner Lou Williams.[1][2] Entering the season, many analysts expected the Clippers to contend for an NBA championship.[3][4]

Despite a nagging shoulder injury and "load management" policy that caused stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, respectively, to sit out multiple games, the Clippers were consistently at the top of the Western Conference standings. The Clippers improved on their 48–34 record last year after making the 8th seed in the Western Conference standings, finishing with a record of 49–23 as the 2nd seed in the Western Conference, their highest seeded placement in franchise history. Kawhi Leonard was named a starter for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game by fans, current players, and media, and was later named the game's MVP.[5] Montrezl Harrell won the 2019-20 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, joining Jamal Crawford and teammate Lou Williams as one of three players to win the award as members of the Clippers.[6]

The season was suspended by the league officials following the games of March 11[7] after it was reported that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.[8] On July 5, the NBA announced a return of the season which would involve 22 teams playing in the NBA Bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.[9] Each of the remaining 22 teams will play eight seeding games to determine positioning for the NBA playoffs.[9] Play resumed on July 30.[10]

The Clippers faced off against the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. It was the first ever meeting between the two teams in the playoffs. The Clippers defeated the Mavericks in six games to win their first playoff series since 2015, advancing to the semifinals. In Game 5 of the series, the Clippers set a franchise record for scoring 154 points in the NBA Playoffs. The 154-point mark was the third most of any team in NBA playoff history.[11] In the Conference Semifinals against the 3rd-seeded Denver Nuggets, the Clippers took a 3–1 series lead before ultimately losing in 7 games. The Clippers failed to hold double-digit leads in all three potential closeout games. Their elimination extends their drought of failing to reach the Conference Finals to 50 years, the longest amongst the four major professional sports leagues.

Following the Clippers' elimination from the playoffs, the team was roundly mocked on social media for their failure to win the championship.[12] The 2019–20 Clippers team has since been viewed as having one of the greatest postseason collapses in NBA history.[13][14][15]

The ensuing fallout from the Nuggets series caused Rivers to lose his position as head coach on September 28. [16]

Draft
Main article: 2019 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
2 48 Terance Mann SF  United States Florida State
2 56 Jaylen Hands PG  United States UCLA

The Clippers hold no first-round picks but holds two second-round picks. The 56th pick was traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with a 2020 second round draft pick for Mfiondu Kabengele. [17]

Roster
Roster listing
2019–20 Los Angeles Clippers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 21 Beverley, Patrick 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1988–07–12 Arkansas
G/F 7 Coffey, Amir (TW) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1997–06–17 Minnesota
G 13 George, Paul 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1990–05–02 Fresno State
F/C 4 Green, JaMychal 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1990–06–21 Alabama
F 5 Harrell, Montrezl 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1994–01–26 Louisville
G 1 Jackson, Reggie 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 208 lb (94 kg) 1990–04–16 Boston College
C 25 Kabengele, Mfiondu 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1997–08–14 Florida State
F 2 Leonard, Kawhi 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1991–06–29 San Diego State
G/F 14 Mann, Terance 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1996–10–18 Florida State
G 19 McGruder, Rodney 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1991–07–29 Kansas State
F 31 Morris, Marcus 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1989–09–02 Kansas
F 15 Motley, Johnathan (TW) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1995–05–04 Baylor
C 55 Noah, Joakim 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1985–02–25 Florida
F 54 Patterson, Patrick 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1989–03–14 Kentucky
G 20 Shamet, Landry 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1997–03–13 Wichita State
G 23 Williams, Lou 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1986–10–27 South Gwinnett HS (GA)
C 40 Zubac, Ivica 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1997–03–18 Croatia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2020–03–09

Standings

Division
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
c – Los Angeles Lakers 52 19 .732 0.0 25–10 27–9 10–3 71
x – Los Angeles Clippers 49 23 .681 3.5 27–9 22–14 8–6 72
Phoenix Suns 34 39 .466 19.0 17–22 17–17 6–9 73
Sacramento Kings 31 41 .431 21.5 16–19 15–22 8–5 72
Golden State Warriors 15 50 .231 34.0 8–26 7–24 2–11 65

Conference
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c – Los Angeles Lakers * 52 19 .732 – 71
2 x – Los Angeles Clippers 49 23 .681 3.5 72
3 y – Denver Nuggets * 46 27 .630 7.0 73
4 y – Houston Rockets * 44 28 .611 8.5 72
5 x – Oklahoma City Thunder 44 28 .611 8.5 72
6 x – Utah Jazz 44 28 .611 8.5 72
7 x – Dallas Mavericks 43 32 .573 11.0 75
8 x – Portland Trail Blazers 35 39 .473 18.5 74
9 Memphis Grizzlies 34 39 .466 19.0 73
10 Phoenix Suns 34 39 .466 19.0 73
11 San Antonio Spurs 32 39 .451 20.0 71
12 Sacramento Kings 31 41 .431 21.5 72
13 New Orleans Pelicans 30 42 .417 22.5 72
14 Minnesota Timberwolves 19 45 .297 29.5 64
15 Golden State Warriors 15 50 .231 34.0 65

Game log

Regular season
2019–20 game log
Total: 49–23 (Home: 27–9; Road: 22–14)
October: 4–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–2)
November: 10–4 (Home: 8–1; Road: 2–3)
December: 10–5 (Home: 3–2; Road: 7–3)
January: 9–4 (Home: 5–2; Road: 4–2)
February: 7–4 (Home: 5–1; Road: 2–3)
March: 4–1 (Home: 1–1; Road: 3–0)
Seeding games: 5–3 (Home: 2–2; Road: 3–1)
2019–20 season schedule

Playoffs
See also: 2020 NBA playoffs
2020 playoff game log
Total: 7–6 (Home: 3–4; Road: 4–2)
First round: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (Home: 1–3; Road: 2–1)
2020 playoff schedule

Transactions
Main article: List of 2019–20 NBA season transactions

Overview
Players Added

Draft

Trade

Free agency

Two-way contract

 Players Lost

Trade

Free agency

Waived

Trades
June 20, 2019 To Los Angeles Clippers
Draft rights to Mfiondu Kabengele		 To Brooklyn Nets
Draft rights to Jaylen Hands
2020 first-round pick
July 6, 2019 To Los Angeles Clippers
Maurice Harkless (from Portland)
Draft rights to Mathias Lessort (from Philadelphia)
2023 first-round pick (from Miami)		 To Portland Trail Blazers
Hassan Whiteside (from Miami)
To Philadelphia 76ers
Josh Richardson (from Miami)		 To Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler (from Philadelphia)
Meyers Leonard (from Portland)
Cash considerations (from Los Angeles)
July 10, 2019 To Los Angeles Clippers
Paul George		 To Oklahoma City Thunder
Danilo Gallinari
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2021 first-round pick (from Miami)
2022 first-round pick
2023 first-round pick (from Miami)
2024 first-round pick
2026 first-round pick
Right to swap first-round picks in 2023 and 2025
February 6, 2020 To Los Angeles Clippers
Protected 2022 second-round pick		 To Atlanta Hawks
Derrick Walton, Jr.
Cash considerations
February 6, 2020 To Los Angeles Clippers
Marcus Morris (from New York)
Isaiah Thomas (from Washington)		 To New York Knicks
Maurice Harkless (from LA Clippers)
2020 LAC first-round pick
2021 LAC first-round pick swap[lower-alpha 1]
2021 DET second-round pick (from LA Clippers)
Draft rights to Issuf Sanon (2018 #44) (from Washington)
To Washington Wizards
Jerome Robinson (from LA Clippers)

Re-signed
Player Signed
Ivica Zubac July 10, 2019
Rodney McGruder July 10, 2019
Patrick Beverley July 11, 2019
JaMychal Green July 18, 2019
Johnathan Motley July 25, 2019, Two-way contract

Additions
Player Signed Former team
Amir Coffey July 9, 2019, Two-way contract Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
Kawhi Leonard[20] July 10, 2019, 3-year contract worth $103 million Toronto Raptors
Patrick Patterson August 15, 2019 Oklahoma City Thunder
Derrick Walton, Jr. October 21, 2019, Exhibit 10 contract Alba Berlin (BBL)
Reggie Jackson February 20, 2020 Detroit Pistons
Joakim Noah March 9, 2020, 10-day contract
June 28, 2020, signed for rest of the season		 Memphis Grizzlies

Subtractions
Player Reason left New team
Tyrone Wallace Waived, July 6, 2019 Minnesota Timberwolves
Sindarius Thornwell Waived, July 6, 2019 Cleveland Cavaliers
Garrett Temple Free agency, July 8, 2019 Brooklyn Nets
Wilson Chandler Free agency, July 8, 2019 Brooklyn Nets
Angel Delgado Free agency, August 8, 2019 Beijing Royal Fighters (CBA)
Isaiah Thomas Waived, February 8, 2020 TBD

Notes
  1. Top 4 protected.

References
  1. "Clippers to land Leonard, George". espn.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  2. "The Clippers Got Kawhi and Paul George, and Changed the NBA". theringer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  3. "Big questions, greatest edge for seven NBA title contenders". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  4. Harper, Zach. "Zach Harper's 2019-20 NBA Team Tiers: Certified contender status". theathletic.com. The Athletic Media Group. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  5. "Lakers' LeBron James, Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo named starters and captains for 2020 NBA All-Star Game". nba.com. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  6. "Clippers' Montrezl Harrell wins 2019-20 Kia NBA Sixth Man Award". NBA.
  7. "NBA to suspend season following Wednesday's games". NBA.com. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  8. Reynolds, Tim (March 11, 2020). "NBA suspends season until further notice, over coronavirus". NBA.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  9. "What we know and don't know about the NBA's return to play". ESPN.com. 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  10. Blumenthal, Eli. "NBA restart: Everything you need to know about basketball's 2020 return". CNET. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  11. Ferdinand Cruz. "Clippers vs. Mavericks, Game 5: Paul George leads Los Angeles to lopsided win over Dallas | Viral NewsWeek". Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  12. "NBA players show no mercy on Twitter in Clippers-Nuggets Game 7 shocker". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  13. Windhorst, Brian. "NBA playoffs: The Clippers' dynasty is on the clock before it can even begin". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  14. Caparell, Adam. "The Clippers Choked Away a Golden Opportunity". Complex.com. Complex. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  15. Buha, Jovan. "'We came up short': Clippers complete one of the worst collapses in NBA history". theathletic.com. The Athletic Media Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  16. https://sports.yahoo.com/los-angeles-clippers-doc-rivers-out-coach-212019978.html
  17. "Full 2019 NBA Draft Order". tankathon.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  18. https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-reschedules-postponed-lakers-clippers-game-for-april-9-at-staples-center/
  19. "Lakers vs. Clippers game postponed". NBA.com. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  20. "L.A. Clippers Sign Two-Time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard". NBA.com/clippers. July 10, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
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