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4 trades for the LA Clippers to get a center

By Cannon Wonderlich

ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 19: Dewayne Dedmon #14 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball against the LA Clippers on November 19, 2018 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 19: Dewayne Dedmon #14 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball against the LA Clippers on November 19, 2018 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

Clippers’ youth for Nets’ youth

The LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets both acquired two All-Stars this summer, putting the future of the young players on each team in jeopardy.

The Nets specifically signed best friends Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and DeAndre Jordan. The acquisition DJ puts the future of Jarrett Allen, their shot-blocking center, into question. If the Nets and Kenny Atkinson plan on starting Jordan, then they might be open to moving the 21-year old Allen.

2. Shamet-Allen swap

The Clippers would be giving up on much of the rest of their young assets. Landry Shamet has already proven himself as an able playoff contributor, while Jerome Robinson and Terance Mann are still raw prospects.

The Clippers would end up getting the elusive center they’ve needed… in addition to the reigning 3-point Contest champion, Joe Harris and a future first round pick.

The Clippers get such a haul for a few reasons.

First: Boy, would there be egg on their face if Robinson, Shamet, and Mann all turn out to be star players.

Second, the Nets might be more willing to part with Joe Harris, as his deal expires next summer, and with two new max players in their books, they might not want to go too deep into the tax to keep him. Lastly, the first round pick is in 2022, when Durant and Irving should both be playing for the team. Even if the Clippers don’t end up using the pick, it could still serve as a trade chip in future transactions.

Allen had a number of highlight defensive plays last season. He put himself on the map after blocking slam-dunk attempts by Blake Griffin, Anthony Davis, and even LeBron James. He isn’t scared to get dunked on. He will do whatever needs to be done to get a defensive stop.

Harris was another one of the Nets’ many breakout players last season. Leading the league in 3-point percentage by connecting on 47.4 percent of his attempts from behind the arc, Harris was key to spreading the floor and creating driving lanes for the Nets’ offense. On the Clippers, Harris could play either a starting or bench role, and would be expected to do the same thing he did in Brooklyn last season.

The Nets could always decide to keep Allen too. They could run him and DJ for 24 minutes per night apiece. But, eventually Allen will grow and demand starter minutes, and since DJ is best friends with the Nets’ two best players, they will have no choice but to move on from the former Texas Longhorn.

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