NBA Rumors: Former Los Angeles Clippers Players Back Doc Rivers Load Management Tactic

The past weeks have seen a debate on the whole load management issue practiced by some NBA teams. One team that came under fire is the Los Angeles Clippers. Head coach Doc Rivers has been managing the playing minutes of new recruit Kawhi Leonard and such has drawn criticism.

Some concur while others are against it. But one former NBA star who believes Rivers is doing the right thing is retired former Clipper Corey Maggette. The 6-foot-6 swingman suited up for six different teams from 1999 to 2013. He played for the Clippers from 2000-08. Maggette had his best year in 2004-05 with the Clips. That season, he averaged 22.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 66 regular-season games per Sports-reference.com.

His career took a different turn in 2012. Injuries hampered him and he had issues with then-Detroit Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank. The Pistons was his last stop, failing to get a roster spot with the San Antonio Spurs the season after.

Load management was not much of a thing at the time. But according to Maggette, it would have made a big difference in his NBA career in a report from TMZ Sports.

"I retired because of major knee injuries," Maggette said. "So, I wish they would have had a position where, from me and Cuttino's perspective, that we had a chance to rest and get our bodies back to 100 percent."

Cuttino Mobley, another former LA Clipper, believes the load management scheme could have helped him as well during his time. He played for the Clippers from 2005-2008. A career-ending heart ailment forced the shooting guard into retirement.

"Listen, if it were happening when we were playing, I wouldn't have so many aches and pains as we do now," said Mobley.

Right now, NBA fans are not thrilled by the load management tactic. The Clippers are not the only team doing it. Several others have done it in the past, something meant to preserve players for the NBA playoffs. The San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and even the Golden State Warriors did this in the past.

In a previous post, New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale is a non-believer in the load management thing. Much of this was covered in a previous post.