After Trade, are Clippers a Bigger Threat to Grizzlies?

Nov 1, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) drives the ball past Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) during the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers have formed a classic rivalry, but has the latest trade squashed the mutual hatred?

Ever since the era of NBA basketball that has seen the Los Angeles Clippers have Chris Paul and Blake Griffin on their roster as well as the Memphis Grizzlies owning the rights to Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, a major rivalry has been created. There is a hatred between the two teams toward each other.

In case you missed it, the Clippers traded two players for one. Matt Barnes is gone. He is out of the equation. All of the aggravation he provided for the Clippers has been swept out the front door.

In the transaction, Los Angeles received Lance Stephenson. He will be a huge question mark heading into the 2015-16 season. He did not play well for the Charlotte Hornets this last season, but he has shown in prior years to be a do-it-all guard that can bring the hustle and the energy.

Will Lance step his game up to another level in L.A.? Is he their missing piece? Will the Clips be the same team after dealing away a team staple in Matt Barnes?

Apr 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Matt Barnes (22) falls into Memphis Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee (5) as they both chase a loose ball during the third quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 94-86. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

These are questions that we will hear in NBA discussions surrounding the Clippers all offseason until game one of 82 tips in late October.

Another question that Grizz Nation will be pondering is whether the Los Angeles Clippers will be as large of a threat to the Memphis Grizzlies as they have been the past several years and/or will the Grizz-Clips rivalry continue?

A few things are certain. L.A. still is led by Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Grizz Nation does not like these two guys at all. Furthermore, Lance Stephenson has a very competitive edge to himself and based off of how he has played versus LeBron James in the NBA Playoffs in Lance’s Indiana Pacers days, I can envision him causing many rifts with players on Western Conference squads.

Apr 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (left) and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) battle for the ball during the third quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers won 94-86. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

I can definitely imagine tension sparking between Tony Allen and Lance Stephenson. Lance may have the more complete offensive game–maybe, because LS seemed to lose it all in the second half of 2014-15–but you know that Allen will bring the defense on every given night. The Grindfather does not back down from any challenge, especially against the Clippers. Every Memphis player circles all the Grizz/Clips meetings on their calendar well before the start of training camp. It is that serious.

Who knows…perhaps we have only seen the beginning stages to an even bigger rivalry between these two teams?

Things will REALLY get interesting if the Memphis Grizzlies are somehow–someway–able to sign Matt Barnes to the club if Charlotte does in fact buy him out of his current contract.

Go Grizz!

Next: How did we grade JaMychal Green's 2014-15 season?

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