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For LA Clippers, Maintaining Cap Space is Key During Trade Season

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 1: Sindarius Thornwell #0 and owner Steve Ballmer of the LA Clippers talk before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 1, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 1: Sindarius Thornwell #0 and owner Steve Ballmer of the LA Clippers talk before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 1, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PLAYA VISTA, CA- JUNE 19: Lawrence Frank, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Los Angeles Clippers with Jerry West as Special Consultant at a press conference in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA- JUNE 19: Lawrence Frank, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Los Angeles Clippers with Jerry West as Special Consultant at a press conference in Playa Vista, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

While trade season is slowly approaching, the LA Clippers need to make sure they maintain their cap space for this summer if they want their max guys.

“The LA Clippers have space for two max contracts in the summer of 2019.”

How many times have you heard that in the past year? It has dominated the media, especially any time the likes of Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant are mentioned.

I bet you have also heard (or even said) one of the following phrases:

“The Clippers need to trade Avery Bradley.”

“The Clippers need to bring in a center like Nikola Vucevic.”

I thought so. But what do those moves really do to the team? In the short term, they likely help, especially the latter. However, will they help keep the space for the two max contracts? Maybe. Maybe not.

It really is a loaded question and depends on what you want to do with those two contract spots. If the Clippers actually are going to bring in both Durant and Leonard, it’s a very tricky situation. If they want to just bring in one of those guys though, it’s a different story.

We will start by going through a very rudimentary explanation of the salary cap situation as it stands right now and I’ll throw a couple definitions your way.

There’s a lot of info and I even had to get a crash course prior to writing this just to make sure I understood it enough to put down in words. (Shout out to Mike Bossetti of Raptors Rupture for helping me out!)

Next, we’ll run through a couple of scenarios and what they mean for the team now as they possibly look to enter the trade market. Spoiler: You might not like one of the things I have to say.

So buckle up, get your CBA FAQ site open and grab a cup of coffee.

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