So now that DeAndre Jordan chickened out of being “the man” and went back to being in the shadows of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, everybody in Hollywood is rejoicing and are now declaring the Los Angeles Clippers contenders in the West.

I have some advice for you Clippers Nation – don’t get your hopes up.

While the Clippers were hoarding Jordan from the Dallas Mavericks, the Clippers’ roster didn’t improve. Sure, they traded for Lance Stephenson, but if he couldn’t get his act straight in bible belt Charlotte, do you really think he is going to turn it around in fast-paced L.A.?

To add insult to injury, the Clippers still doesn’t have a bench to compete with the best of the East, let alone the West. Jamal Crawford is still their best option in the second unit, but he is showing signs of wear and tear, and rumors are flying that he may be shipped out of town. If he leaves, who is the next one up? Wesley Johnson? A Paul Pierce on the downside of his career?

And then there’s this little golden nugget; the Clippers will be returning a roster that choked away a trip to the Western Conference Finals. That should be comforting to all Clippers fans knowing that the team is good enough to win 54 games during the regular season, but will melt under the hot glow of the playoffs.

In other words, another typical Clippers season.

So although the Clippers managed to retain their “franchise” center, the team has managed to stay in the wallows of mediocrity. Looking at the roster as it is today, this team is destined for another second-round flameout, and that may be enough to get Doc Rivers canned at the end of the season. But it was all worth holding your center hostage, right Clippers?

DeAndre is back in Hollywood, but don’t think for a second that the Clippers will be contenders next season because this team still has question marks in their roster, and it has yet to be seen if the Clippers have the mental toughness to be contenders.

 

Kareem Gantt covers the wide world of sports for Rant Sports. Want to know what’s on his mind? Follow him on Twitter at @kganttwrites.