Clippers: 3 bench players who should not be traded

Dec 2, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers yells to his team during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

With rumors surrounding a few players already, it looks like the Los Angeles Clippers could make a move. So, to make a case for those who are too important to let go, here are three bench players they should not trade.

When it comes to the matter of the NBA trade season for the Los Angeles Clippers, opinions over potential trades are divided. While it’s safe to say that Lance Stephenson is largely considered by fans as someone who needs a better chance, and obviously the main four players in the starting lineup are untouchable, the rest of the team is a little more questionable.

Is it time to let Jamal Crawford go? Are Stephenson and Josh Smith really available for trade this early after their arrival in Los Angeles? Should Doc Rivers get rid of his son Austin Rivers and look for a better backup point guard? There are numerous questions that can be proposed now.

There are probably various scenarios that different Clippers fans want to see. Whether they’d like one of the players mentioned above to be included in a deal or they’d rather the team don’t make a move at all, it’s a matter that can go both ways. Although, despite the uniqueness of this Clippers team after they recently added so many new players, this is the same for any franchise around the NBA.

Yet, from a standpoint considering that only a quarter of the season has been played and L.A. have now won nine of their last 11 games and three straight, a trade doesn’t need to happen right now. There certainly isn’t any reason to burst into panic, especially now that the defense is improving and the results (even if they aren’t always pretty) are coming.

As Doc’s rotations have been full of experimentation and questionable decisions so far, all the players who will be looked at here have stepped into the starting lineup at some point. So, yes, to be technical, they aren’t always “bench players”. However, as three new players who could all find themselves being rotated throughout the season in various ways, there are several reasons for each as to why they should not be traded.

Here are the arguments for them to stay in L.A. and for Doc to consider moving others if he does intend to make a trade.

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