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Clippers Trade Talk: 5 trade targets to finally fix L.A.’s bench

By Tom West

Nov 18, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) looks back to the bench in the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) looks back to the bench in the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) walks to the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 142-119. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) walks to the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings won 142-119. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

P.J. Tucker

If the Clippers can replace someone on their bench with a tenacious defender like P.J. Tucker, they can easily be better for it. The team already has offense all over the place, and still ranks 4th in offensive efficiency despite their uncharacteristic drop off in three-point shooting this season. Bearing this in mind, targeting a player like Tucker makes sense if he’s acquired for some combination of the tradable Clippers players we’ve discussed.

No, Tucker isn’t going to offer much offensively. He’s averaging a mere 6.6 points in his 27.8 minutes per game and averages just 0.8 made threes at a 36.3 percent rate, but that’s not why he’d be needed.

Defensively, he’s both versatile and tough, a combination that normally makes a player effective at that end of the floor. Besides being able to bother multiple positions on the perimeter, he also rebounds at a strong rate with seven boards per 36 minutes.

For the Suns, they’re without doubt in a lost season right now. While Tucker obviously plays an important role and has started all but two of their 38 games this season, the have second-year forward T.J. Warren who has far more upside. He’s upped his performance and efficiency across the board this season, and could be on his way to a starting role in the future. Rookie Devin Booker has also been playing well at times this season, and can take more perimeter minutes as he develops, too. Plus, someone else is likely going to be thrown into the mix as well when Markieff Morris is surely traded.

Going forward, as they have no hope this season after losing Eric Bledsoe to a torn meniscus, they could look to start Warren and rebuild with other possible moves to shake up the team all together. At 13-25, something has to change. Again, it’s a matter of the Clippers creating a deal with their low-value pieces, but Tucker isn’t too valuable financially with a salary of just $5.5 million.

Seeing as Doc isn’t playing Stephenson and Smith anyway, why not try to acquire a new defender to utilize if you’re keeping the rest of your shooters in tact? If he takes a few minutes away from guys like Crawford and Paul Pierce, the Clippers will really benefit on defense.

A little extra toughness from a player who will show up and do his job and no more could be highly beneficial for the Clippers — just look at how well Luc Mbah a Moute has done in a similar defense-first situation this season.

Next: A power forward who can actually shoot

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