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LA Clippers: Best and Worst Transactions of the last 10 years

By Nathan Jacobo

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LA Clippers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
LA Clippers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

2018-2019

Best Move: Trading for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Clippers had back-to-back picks in the lottery (12th and 13th). The goal for them was drafting one of the top guards coming into the draft.

They saw Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Collin Sexton go off the board before it was their turn to pick. With the 11th pick in the draft, the Clippers and Hornets agreed to deal that helped the Clippers leapfrog Charlotte and secure SGA.

The Clippers sent the 12th pick (Miles Bridges) and two future 2nd-Rd picks to Charlotte. Shai proved he was worth the trade as he showed major potential in becoming one of the league’s best guards in the future.

Doc Rivers claimed that SGA, “was by far my favorite rookie that I ever coached”. SGA never looked rattled as the quiet demeanor and pose he played with made him look like a 10-year veteran.

Helping develop and groom him along the way was assistant coach Sam Cassell (who helped him with his mid-range game), and guards Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams (showed him how to act like a veteran).

SGA not only possessed skill on the court but he showed his drip off the floor too. He always came into every game wearing a new designer fit that he bought the previous day.

Shai really showed the type of player he could be when he showed out in Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors.

Honorable Mention for Best Move

You can argue that the honorable mention for best move right here is the Clippers resigning Lou Williams (3-year/$24 million) and Montrezl Harrell (2-year/$12 million) to team-friendly deals but trading Tobias signaled that the Clippers were going big-game hunting in free agency.

After Tobias Harris sank a game-winning floater against the Charlotte Hornets, he was traded hours later along with Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott to the Philadelphia 76ers for Landry Shamet, Mike Muscala (traded for Ivica Zubac), Wilson Chandler, two 1st-rd picks and two 2nd-Rd picks.

Getting Shamet, a sniper from three, was a nice return for three expiring contracts along with the four draft picks. Shamet hit big shots in his rookie season with the Clippers including the 28-point comeback win against the Boston Celtics and the 31-point comeback win against the Golden State Warriors.

Tobias Harris declined a 4-yr/$80 million deal that Clippers offered him so rather than lose him for nothing they gained back a really nice return.

Worst Move: Drafting Jerome Robinson

Hours leading up to the NBA Draft, there was a rumor gaining steam that Jerry West wanted to select guard Jerome Robinson out of Boston College with one of the two draft picks that the Clippers had.

Well, the rumor was true, the Clippers selected Robinson with the 13th overall pick hoping his shot-making ability would translate over well to the NBA.

Robinson was expected to take a major leap as a lottery pick and form a future duo between him and SGA. Instead, Robinson could not contribute at all on the floor when his name was called.

His best game as a Clipper also came in Game 4 of the NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors. It still stings seeing the Clippers passed on Michael Porter Jr. for Robinson but he still has a few more years to prove that he wasn’t a bust.

Robinson was traded in the 2019-20 season to the Washington Wizards at the Trade Deadline.

Honorable Mention for Worst Move

Austin Rivers’s time as a member of the LA Clippers came to an end when they traded him to the Washington Wizards for center Marcin Gortat.

The 34-year old center at the time played in 47 games for the Clippers but wasn’t the same rebounder and enforcer that he once was.

Gortat wanted out of Washington because he and John Wall didn’t see eye-to-eye. Wall said that “he spoon-fed Gortat on pick-and-rolls”, citing that the was only reason he was getting open looks.

Wall might have had a point as Gortat was substituted almost immediately for center Montrezl Harrell every game.

On the day of the trade deadline, the Clippers waived Gortat. Just last month, he officially retired from basketball.