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3 centers the LA Clippers could target at the trade deadline

By Ryan Snellings

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 15: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder seen prior to the game against the LA Clippers on December 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 15: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder seen prior to the game against the LA Clippers on December 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 15: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder seen prior to the game against the LA Clippers on December 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- DECEMBER 15: Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder seen prior to the game against the LA Clippers on December 15, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With the trade deadline looming on Thursday, here are three potential centers that the LA Clippers could target to shore up their roster.

The LA Clippers are still reportedly going to be active prior to Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline. Multiple outlets have pegged them as needing a center in order to compete with the elite big teams in the West like the Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, and Denver Nuggets.

But who should they target? There are several reported options that the Clippers could go for. Today, we will look at three potential targets.

Steven Adams

Steven Adams is an interesting piece. There hasn’t been a ton of chatter in regards to him moving from Oklahoma City who could be a big seller at the deadline but teams have been calling about him. Adams is just 26-years-old and is signed through 2021.

His size would be the biggest advantage for the Clippers. He stands 6’11” and is one of the bigger and stronger centers in the league weighing in at 265 pounds.

Adams’ offensive game is not predicated on needing the ball in his hands, another advantage. He’s still managing slightly over 10 points per game with the Thunder this season but the majority of that comes from putbacks. Adams is an excellent offensive rebounder pulling down 3.4 offensive boards per game.

The Ringer came up with a hypothetical trade that would get Adams to the Clippers.

The trade would send Rodney McGruder, Maurice Harkless, and Ivica Zubac to the Thunder in exchange for Adams. This deal gives the Thunder a young center in Zubac who fits their timeframe better, an expiring but useful player in Harkless, and a reasonably priced guard in McGruder.

We kicked around the idea of an Adams trade a few weeks ago but the deal was slightly different. It would have involved Harkless, Montrezl Harrell, Jerome Robinson, and Derrick Walton Jr. to give the Thunder some youth. Do the Thunder deal with the Clippers again after the Paul George deal this summer? Who knows.

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