The Los Angeles Clippers came into the season looking to build off last year, but they fell flat on their face at the starting line.<\/p>\n
The Clipper started the year off 6-21, despite returning most of last season\u2019s roster that took the Denver Nuggets to seven games. LA did right the ship and had an 18-3 stretch, before they shockingly traded James Harden away to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and then Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Clippers have kept on winning. Garland and Mathurin have fit in seamlessly next to Leonard. Mathurin has thrived in his off the bench role and while he is in a contract year, his long-term outlook in LA looks positive.<\/p>\n
Mathurin could find himself replacing Kawhi Leonard as the team\u2019s small forward of the future<\/p>\n
Leonard is in his mid-30s and while he has mostly had a clean bill of health this season, he has a well-documented injury history. He also has the impending NBA ruling on the whole Aspiration scandal involving his contract, so that is also up in the air. It\u2019s possible that Leonard\u2019s contract with the Clippers could be voided.<\/p>\n
Either way, LA has a great replacement option in Mathurin. He\u2019s averaging 20 points per game, six rebounds, and two assists in 30 minutes per game. His efficiency hasn\u2019t been the best, as he is only shooting 43 percent from the field and 18 percent from three-point range, but he has still been very effective.<\/p>\n
He has been attacking the rim relentlessly, as he is shooting eight free-throws per game, up from the five free-throws he was attempting with the Pacers this season.<\/p>\n