Clippers Trade Talk: 4 reasons why Josh Smith should go

He could help get someone Doc will (should) actually use

Who the Clippers may pursue if they trade Smith is unclear. Ideally, Doc will go after a point guard to step in behind Chris Paul who’s a reliable three point shooter, a solid defender, and someone who can run the offense effectively with precise pick-and-rolls, for example.

Yes, Austin Rivers has been playing well as of late with some hot shooting and improved defense, but the shooting won’t last and he’s still not a point guard who can run the offense to create much for others. As for Prigioni who has also settled in well lately, the sample size with the Clippers is still too small to know how the rest of the season could turn out. Plus, there isn’t exactly much long-term future now that he’s 38.

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A point guard who’s more consistent than Rivers and younger than Prigioni seems like the best move that the Clippers could make if they do look to trade. On the other hand, maybe a big man who can replace Smith on the bench, with a similar skill set to Aldrich, could be beneficial. A typical second unit frontcourt with size and toughness rather than a three-point happy, small-ball experiment could be perfect.

However, to find such a player with what the Clippers have to offer will be extremely difficult, not to mention the lack of minutes available in the frontcourt rotation now that Aldrich has stepped up and Griffin is returning soon.

This also brings up the issue of team chemistry, and working any new potential players into the rotation in a way that won’t detract from others. And that’s been a problem the Clippers have already dealt with far too much this season.

We’ll be considering potential trade targets and suitors for certain players soon, so be sure to look out for that here at Clipperholics to see what could (ideally) happen to help the team. Yet, with how well things are going right now without Griffin, they are better off by keeping this team intact.

Next: How the Clippers are winning without Blake Griffin

In the meantime, you can debate in your mind what you think of the Josh Smith era in L.A. It seems all but over with the way he’s been thrown to the bottom of the rotation, so it looks even more likely that he might be dealt away before the February 18 trade deadline.

If not, he’ll be another failed acquisition by Doc who will do little more than keep the bench warm for his favored teammates.