Are the 2020 LA Clippers the best NBA team money can buy?

LA Clippers (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LA Clippers (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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LA Clippers Landry Shamet
LA Clippers Landry Shamet (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Landry Shamet – $1,995,920

The second-year guard represents a similar salary-range as Patrick Patterson but falls into the category of a young, promising player still on a team-friendly deal. He has outperformed his draft stock (26th overall in 2018) and looks to have a bright future in the NBA.

Landry Shamet’s salary of $1.99 million means we will be evaluating him against players making between $2.49 and $1.59 million this season.

The full list of players in that salary range:

Brandon Clarke, Terrance Ferguson, Grayson Allen, Anthony Tolliver, Grant Williams, Jarrett Allen, Pascal Siakam, Skal Labissiere, Chandler Hutchinson, Dejounte Murray, Alec Burks, Damian Jones, Darius Bazley, OG Anunoboy, Ante Zizic, Monta Ellis, Markieff Morris, Aaron Holiday, Luke Kornet, Ty Jerome, Willie Cauley-Stein, Austin Rivers, Carmelo Anthony, Anfernee Simons, Matt Barnes, Nassir Little, Torrey Craig, Moritz Wagner, Dylan Windler, Caleb Swanigan, Trey Burke, Kyle O’Quinn, Michael Carter-Williams, Mike Muscala, Nerlens Noel, Troy Daniels, Ben McLemore, Spencer Hawes, Edmond Sumner, Noah Vonley, Mfiodu Kabengele, Kyle Kuzma, Jordan Poole, Tony Bradley, Keldon Johnson, Derrick White, Robert Williams, Josh Hart, Jacob Evans, Anderson Varejao, Dzanan Musa, Omari Spellman, Shabazz Napier, Glenn Robinson, James Ennis, Tim Frazir, Larry Sanders, Bruno Caboclo, Markieff Morris, Mario Hezonja, Emmanuel Mudiay, Raul Neto, JaKarr Sampson, Pat Connaughton, Jahlil Okafor, Rodions Kurucs, Jonah Bolden, Georges Niang, Cheick Diallo, Dragan Bender, David Nwaba, Treveon Graham, Willy Hernangomez, Derrick Jones, Jordan McRae, Christian Wood, Furkan Korkmaz, Jordan Bell, Justin Patton, ROyce O’Neale, Dillon Brooks, Wesley Iwundu, Abel Nader, Damyean Dotson, Frank Jackson, Sterlling Brown, Dwayne Bacon, Semi Ojeleye, Chris Boucher, Malcolm Miller, Monte Morris.

The list of players who we’d swap straight-up for Shamet is a lot shorter than those we’d swap for Patterson, but there are still a few stand-outs.

Jarrett Allen

This was a close call and is somewhat of a realistic swap that Brooklyn might be willing to do. Shamet would certainly be a nice fit for their roster. We wouldn’t blame you if you said no to making this one-for-one deal.

Pascal Siakam

This is no-doubt-about-it for the Clippers and a no-way-not-ever for the Raptors.

Dejounte Murray

When healthy, Murray has shined on defense and shown enough on the offensive end of the floor to make this swap.

OG Anunoboy

A little bit more defensive versatility than Shamet, but a little less productive on offense. It’s a toss-up to which we say “yes” but would understand if you disagree.

Kyle Kuzma

The Lakers reserve thinks that he would start on most teams in the league. He’s got the confidence, for sure, and we’d trade him straight up for Shamet if given the chance.

Christian Wood

The fourth-year forward is having a breakout season for the Pistons before the season was put on hold. He’s due for a major pay increase when he becomes a free agent this offseason. We’d say yes to moving Shamet for the 24-year-old versatile big man.

Just missing the salary-range cut-off is New York Knicks mega-bargain standout Mitchell Robinson.