Young Assets Who Can Sweeten Deals for Veterans
13. Amir Coffey
Everyone loves Coffey right? The Minnesota guard has seen little to no action in the NBA this season but has shown flashes in the G-League by scoring 15 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Coffey is on a two-way contract and would likely be moved to match up players or minimal salary work but he will likely stay with the Agua-Caliente Clippers for the remainder of the season.
12. Johnathan Motley
Much like Coffey, Motley has seen little action in the NBA this season and is also on a two-way contract again after having a successful season in the G-League last season.
The Baylor product is only 24 and has plenty of room for improvement and growth and the likelihood that any team is interested in anything more than a minimal move involving Motley is low but he could be moved to match salaries or players in a deal before Thursday.
11. Derrick Walton Jr.
Personally, Derrick Walton Jr. is a favorite young player of mine out of Michigan. His game was very polished at Michigan and at 24 years of age, he also has plenty of room for improvement as a young point guard in the NBA.
Walton Jr. has seen more NBA action than some of the other young guys on the roster as he usually sits behind Williams or Beverley at point guard but fills in when either is on rest or injured. Walton Jr. is more likely in the future plans for the LA Clippers, but he is on an NBA contract so his minimal salary of $1.45 million could be used to make salaries work(yes I know salary adjusting is a big part of this article).
10. Mfiondu Kabengele
The LA Clippers selected Kabengele in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft at pick 27 out of Florida State to find a young forward who can stretch the floor in the future and Kabengele has done well during his time in the G-League alongside FSU teammate Terance Mann.
The 22-year old forward is on a cheap rookie contract at the moment that may entice specific teams that are looking for young players in their rebuild but Kabengele’s name will not shock the NBA world if he is moved before Thursday, which in all likelihood he won’t be unless the Clippers move for a better player and have to match a salary or add a young asset to sweeten a deal.
9. Terance Mann
Much like his Florida State teammate, Mann was a draft pick from the LA Clippers in the second round and highly regarded at the guard position by Jerry West and Mann has even seen some starts in the NBA this season when Beverley and Paul George were dealing with their respective injuries.
Mann currently makes $1 million on his second-round rookie deal and the young playmaker has done well when his name is called upon and some rebuilding teams may eye Mann as a future project as part of a much bigger offer.