The LA Clippers easily won the 2020 trade deadline

Now that the trade deadline has passed and every move has been reported, we can confidently say that the LA Clippers won the 2020 trade deadline.

Yesterday was a complete whirlwind with countless players on the move. The LA Clippers saw Maurice Harkless, Jerome Robinson, and Derrick Walton Jr. all shipped out with Marcus Morris being the only player coming in.

Despite giving out three players and draft picks and only receiving one guy back, I can confidently say the LA Clippers won the 2020 trade deadline.

Getting Morris obviously is what the Clippers wanted. The team had pursued him in free agency this summer but lost out after he received bigger offers from the Spurs and then the Knicks. They stay committed in their chase and were able to secure a forward who will compliment Paul George and Kawhi Leonard both offensively and defensively.

We have already broken down how we think acquiring him is ultimately a win but it’s more than just that. At first report, the LA Clippers were going to have to give up Terance Mann and Mfiondu Kabengele, their two rookies. However, the Knicks decided to forego trading for them as they did not want to cut anyone on their roster. The result? The Clips only lost Robinson as opposed to two players who still have a lot of time to develop. That’s a win.

The team also managed to open up roster spots, setting them up well for the buyout market. While Tristan Thompson won’t be bought out and it seems more than likely that Darren Collison picks the Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers are still in a prime position to bring in top-tier buyout talent. Their location coupled with their championship aspirations make them the perfect situation for wily veterans to join. Another win.

What happened around the league also is a big factor in deciding yesterday’s winner. The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to move anyone even after dangling Kyle Kuzma as potential trade bait.

The Houston Rockets made a move for Robert Covington, someone sought after by many contenders, but in the process gave up their centers and are now playing PJ Tucker at the five spot. While it’s a unique situation, no one is quite sure how that will work in the long run.

Andre Iguodala went to the Miami Heat, which given the other options of the Clips overpaying or the Lakers acquiring his services, is a win for the Clippers.

There were big names traded including Andre Drummond and D’Angelo Russell. The former was sent to Cleveland who is a non-factor and the latter went to Minnesota where he can form a solid tandem with Karl-Anthony Towns in the future but won’t really matter for the rest of the current season.

All in all, the Clippers had the best possible outcome at the trade deadline considering everything that went down. They got a player they wanted who can help win a championship, their biggest rivals made no moves, and other trades weren’t necessarily net positives for any teams they will face in the playoffs. Let’s see if they can win the buyout market as well.