We look at each member of the LA Clippers’ trade value.
With their loss in the second round to the Denver Nuggets, the LA Clippers may be looking to make some tweaks to their roster this summer. With most of their tradable assets given away in the Paul George trade, the Clipper are more or less only left with their players to deal.
Given that a trade seems possible, let’s rank each player on the Clippers’ and how valuable they would be seen as to the rest of the league.
N/A – Untouchable or Free Agent
Let’s get this out of the way first. Kawhi Leonard is untouchable. The Clippers won’t trade him in any situation short of him marching into Steve Ballmer’s office and telling him that he will not be re-signing in 2021.
Here are the team’s free agents who by definition, cannot be traded.
- JaMychal Green (player option)
- Marcus Morris
- Reggie Jackson
- Montrezl Harrell
- Patrick Patterson
- Johnathan Motley
I have seen countless individuals online clamoring for a Trezz trade. While he is probably one of the more tradable players on the team given his age and production, he can’t be traded as he is entering free agency.
Yes, it’s technically possible via a sign-and-trade but he has to agree to go to the team that the Clippers would be dealing with. I can see a sign-and-trade being worked out as the Clippers did back when Chris Paul went to Houston but until Trezz makes his plans clear, there’s no use in speculating. Because we have absolutely no idea what he is thinking, we’ll keep him off the list for the time being.
8. Rodney McGruder
I have McGruder as the least valuable trade piece that the Clippers currently have. He’s only set to make a little over $5 million next season and is just 29 but he was an end of the bench rotation piece for the Clippers. His best value would be in a more complicated trade where his contract helps the Clippers to match salary. Outside of that, don’t expect many (if any) teams to call looking for his services.
7. Patrick Beverley
Seeing Patrick Beverley so low might be a surprise to some fans but consider this:
He’s 32 years old, set to make $13 million next year and $14 million in 2021, and is coming off a season where he had some injury issues. Oh, and some see him as a wildcard.
This isn’t to say that Bev doesn’t have trade value. Some teams looking to win now might benefit from adding him to their roster. As an offensive player, he fits well next to superstars with his ability to knock down the three-ball while not demanding many other touches. On the defensive end, he is a threat and is coming off a Second Team All-Defense nomination.
Some can see the Clippers moving Beverley in order to try and get more of a scoring threat in the team’s starting lineup but finding a partner to take his salary might be a bit difficult.
6. Mfiondu Kabengele
Mfiondu Kabengele comes in at number six. While he didn’t see many minutes for the team, he was an absolute offensive monster in the G-League. Fi is on a rookie deal, is just 23 years old, and looks to be the new-age stretch the floor type of center teams would want.
Given though that he did not really stick to the NBA on a team that often needed big man help, it’s hard to predict his actual value. Fi is still an asset though and could be used to sweeten the pot on any potential deals that the team makes.
5. Terance Mann
Much like Fi, Terance Mann is higher on the list due to his age and being on a rookie contract. Mann was the rookie that got the most playing time during the season and even found himself getting spot minutes in the playoffs to guard the likes of Luka Doncic on end of the quarter possessions.
Mann isn’t quite ready to be in a regular rotational spot but the 6’5 point guard has shown flashes that he could be ready one day. I don’t see the Clippers moving on from Mann for now, especially that reports of the team wanting more playmakers have surfaced. Mann will have time to develop for the Clippers while learning from Doc Rivers and others.
4. Lou Williams
Lou Williams comes in as the fourth most valuable asset. Lou is the oldest player on the team at 33 years old but his contract is super valuable at just $8 million. Lou obviously is a negative on the defensive end and his age could be a factor for several teams looking at him but there is still a ton of value to be found. This is the last year of his contract too, so a contender in need could make the move for him if they believe his scoring off the bench could help.
Coming off yet another Sixth Man of the Year type season, Lou could have several suitors should the Clippers ultimately decide to include him in a deal.
3. Landry Shamet
Landry Shamet comes in at number three. While I see his value as the third highest on the team, I can see him being the number one movable piece, if that makes sense. Here’s the logic.
Shamet is 23 years old, still on his rookie deal, and is a sharpshooter. He has one year left on his deal with the following being a team option. After that, he would enter restricted free agency. With all of those years more or less guaranteed, a team looking to rebuild could add Shamet as a core piece.
Shamet did have a consistent role with the Clippers but it lessened in the playoffs. While his shooting is a perfect fit next to the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, he’s not a 100% must keep player.
2. Ivica Zubac
On probably one of the best contract to production contracts in the league, Ivica Zubac comes in at second on our list. What’s not to like about him?
He’s young (23 years old), only makes $7 million per year, defends and rebounds well, and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective. If Zubac does get traded, expect it to be for a lot more than Mike Muscala this time around.
I don’t see the Clippers moving away from Zu though. Even though he probably could’ve gotten more minutes in the postseason (especially in game seven), he is a key piece. He has extremely great chemistry with Leonard and George and should be held onto as long as possible.
1. Paul George
At the top of the list, we have Paul George. Duh.
He underperformed in the postseason but he is still a top 20 player in the NBA currently. If for whatever reason the Clippers decide to make him available (they won’t), they could still get a ton for him. No, it won’t be anywhere near the haul they gave up to acquire George (and thereby Leonard) but they could definitely recoup some good assets and upgrade several role players while sacrificing PG’s star ability.
George is a free agent in 2021 so that also does hamper his trade value. If reports about him and other teammates not getting along is true though, George might be inclined to being traded should things even escalate to that point.
I don’t see a trade happening around Paul George but if the team decides that everyone but Leonard is available, he still is going to bring back the most value.