Future Draft Picks
The LA Clippers returned some great players, but this may be the area where they truly shined in the trade.
Philadelphia sent four draft picks over for the Harris package, two of which are first-round selections. That’s already nice by itself, but when you take a closer look at the years and protections involved with the picks, it starts looking even better.
Let’s look at the first-round picks first. One of them is Philadelphia’s own, a 2020 first-rounder that reportedly has no protections. Now, the Sixers are going to be good next year, so this will likely fall in the mid-to-upper 20s. Still though, a first-round pick is a first-round pick, and it’s one more than the Clippers had.
The next first-round selection is an unprotected 2021 pick via the Miami Heat, and boy is this a big one. Assuming the Heat don’t do well that season, the Clippers will have a lottery pick on their hands — which is something they certainly won’t have on their own, if all goes according to plan this summer. The 2021 class is already shaping up to be a great one too.
LA also managed two second-round selections, one in 2021 and another in 2023. These obviously aren’t as valuable as the other two picks returned, but still important pieces (and assets) that the Clippers can use at their own discretion.
In the end, this trade may end up hurting a lot of fans, but it’s the right move for the future of the franchise. The LA Clippers returned some solid pieces for a player on an expiring contract, and are continuing to build themselves up while they pursue superstar free agents this summer.
For now, the last thing we can say is this: Trust the Logo.