Clippers starting to look like the Pistons of years past

If anyone can understand what the Los Angeles Clippers are going through right now, it is the Detroit Pistons, who know what it is like to lose your star player and have a roster of good but not great guys left trying to compete.

That pretty much summarizes the Blake Griffin era in Detroit, where the oft-injured star had one really good year before getting hurt and leaving the Pistons with guys like Luke Kennard, Reggie Jackson and Markieff Morris, all nice role players, but not guys who are going to lead you to the playoffs.

The Clippers have lost both of their stars with Kawhi Leonard and now Paul George out, and are in a similar position as the old Pistons, thinking about blowing it up and dreaming about getting a return for their role players.

A bunch of ex-Pistons could be on the move

The Clippers were expected to be in the hunt for a title this season, but instead have a .500 record and might not get either of their stars back, which could make them sellers at the deadline:

Ex-Detroit Pistons Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris (the other Morris) and Luke Kennard could all be on the trading block and Clippers fans are probably much like Pistons fans, dreaming about getting some kind of return for these exact three players.

Maybe if we just put them all together that will equal one good player! Ah, I remember those days. Instead the Pistons were able to turn Morris into Avery Bradley and a second-round pick (insert puke emoji).

The Pistons bought out Reggie Jackson and paid him to leave, though he has been good for the Clippers. They did turn Luke Kennard into Saddiq Bey with some savvy drafting by Troy Weaver, but now he is making WAY more money and is pretty much the same player.

It will be interesting to see what the Clippers do with these guys, but I couldn’t help but be reminded of when the Pistons were a .500 team with higher expectations that were doomed because of injury, looking to turn role players into something.

Good luck, Clippers!