We suggest one trade the LA Clippers could make with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
We continue our series of suggesting one trade the LA Clippers can make with every team in the NBA with our second straight suggestion of a major shake-up to the team’s paint presence.
The Oklahoma City Thunder currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference with a record of 40-24. The team is having a bit of a surprising season, lead by former Clipper Chris Paul having a resurgent season in his first year with the team.
The Thunder’s roster features a balance of veteran leaders, young up-and-coming stars, and a bevy of future draft assets thanks to last summer’s trade with the Clippers for Paul George.
Today’s trade helps nudge the Thunder a little more towards the future while bolstering the Clippers’ interior presence and toughness for the next two very important seasons.
Why we suggest this trade for the LA Clippers:
This trade is very similar to the one we suggested yesterday for the Clippers to make with the Utah Jazz. The Clippers make a move to go all-in on their current roster with a high-profile, big money, defensive-minded center to anchor the paint for their run at the NBA championship.
Steven Adams doesn’t put up the same type of numbers as Rudy Gobert, but the six-foot-eleven New Zealander certainly provides toughness and defensive presence that would fit right in on the Clippers. He’s also under contract through 2021 and would fit in with the team’s “win now” window.
We like the Gobert suggestion a little bit more, as his defense and rim protection pedigree is stronger than Adams’, but on the bright side, we finally suggest a swap in which the Clippers get to hold onto Mfiondu Kabengele.
Would the Thunder do it?
Adams is loved in Oklahoma City, but he gets paid a lot of money ($25.8 million this season to be exact). Marcus Morris contract comes to an end at the conclusion of this season and would allow them to remove $15 million from their salary cap by letting him walk. Ivica Zubac, at 23, is already a proven rebounder and offensive presence and has shown promise that he can develop as a rim protector. Zubac also fits the Thunder’s timeline a bit better, as he is three years younger than Adams. He’s also a whole lot cheaper, being under contract through the 2022-23 season with a high salary point of $7.5 million that season.
Read the rest of our “One Trade with every Team” series here:
Pacific Division: Lakers, Warriors, Kings, Suns
Northwest Division: Nuggets, Jazz, Thunder, Blazers, Timberwolves
Southwest Division: Rockets, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Spurs
Atlantic Division: Raptors, Celtics, 76ers, Nets, Knicks
Central Division: Bucks, Pacers, Bulls, Pistons, Cavaliers
Southeast Division: Heat, Magic, Wizards, Hornets, Hawks