With the trade deadline coming up on February 8th, the rumor mill has been going nuts in the NBA. LA Clippers guard Lou Williams has been rumored as a trade asset. Sweet Lou wants to stay, and we are OK WITH THAT.
After his impressive 50-point game in Oakland that broke the Clippers’ 12-game losing streak to Golden State, Lou Williams told ESPN he hopes to stay with the team. When asked about going to another team, Williams stated he hoped to stay with the Clippers.
"…I’m starting to bond with these guys, so hopefully this is where I am at the end of the year."
At the age of 31, in his 13th season in the NBA, Lou is having the best year of his career. He is not only making a great case for another Sixth Man of the Year award, but is creating buzz for an All-Star appearance in LA. When you dive into his season numbers on Basketball Reference the stats are remarkable.
Right after the game in Golden State on Wednesday night Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports dropped a tweet saying that the Clippers and Williams have engaged in contract extension talks.
Sources: Lou Williams and the Clippers have recently engaged in contract extension discussions, but no deal's formed as sides evaluate positions. Williams went for 50 points against the Warriors in Oakland tonight. He's eligible for an extension during season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 11, 2018
With all the injuries the team has suffered this year, Williams has kept the Clippers in the playoff conversation. In his first season with the team he has hit some franchise milestones. Here some stats that have really stood out.
Lou Williams: 1st Clippers player with a 50-point game since Charles Smith against the Nuggets in December 1990.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2018
Highest PPG in January 2018 (min 4 games)
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 11, 2018
Steph Curry—34.5 PPG
DeMar DeRozan—33.4 PPG
Lou Williams—33.2 PPG (3 games off the bench) pic.twitter.com/umFip12RPJ
50-point scorers this season
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 11, 2018
LeBron James
James Harden
Bradley Beal
DeMar DeRozan
and tonight, Lou Williams pic.twitter.com/LFHjeCiv8T
Lou Williams is the first @LAClippers player to have 3 40-point games in a single season since World B. Free in 1979-80. pic.twitter.com/IIEPYZ6iwd
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 11, 2018
That last stat really stands out. World B. Free played for the San Diego Clippers. That means that Lou Williams is the first LOS ANGELES Clipper to have 3 40-point games in a single season ever. Considering that the Clippers moved to LA in 1984, that is staggering.
Whether or not a Lou extension would push the reality button on a DeAndre Jordan trade or not, it seems like the right thing to do. His scoring, effort, and spark off the bench has become too valuable to the team and should be retained while he’s still hot.