The NBA trade deadline is slowly inching closer and closer. Teams like the LA Clippers will look to improve their rosters for the final push into the postseason.
As is typical around this time of year, rumors have begun to pop up with a big name being attached to the Clips.
Toronto Raptors’ point guard Kyle Lowry reportedly has an interest in the LA Clippers.
This rumor about Kyle Lowry comes via Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. There’s nothing really concrete here with Pompey just noting the following:
"A league source says the Raptors want to reward Lowry for his years of service by helping him secure an opportunity to win another NBA title. That would help his legacy.That’s where the Sixers, Heat, and Clippers come in, sources say. Though things are far from definite at this point."
There is a case to be made for the Clippers trading for Lowry. He would give them yet another playmaker and scorer in the starting unit and someone who already is familiar with Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka. While the defense isn’t at the same level as Patrick Beverley, he is an overall better player and would make the starting group extremely difficult to defend.
There’s one problem though – his $30 million salary this season. If the Raptors do decide to trade Lowry, the Clippers would have to give up the house in order to get him. Just look at this potential trade that works money-wise.
Sure, you can switch out a few pieces (Marcus Morris Sr. for Lou Williams or Patrick Beverley) but the number of players to get to $30 million is pretty tough to swallow. The Clippers would need to add a few guys from the buyout market and given the players in the trade, I don’t see how that moves the needle in the right direction.
Pompey does note that the trade isn’t a guarantee and that Lowry might just opt to leave next summer when he enters free agency. That would probably be a better avenue for the Clippers if Lowry was willing to take a lesser deal to play with a contender at this point in his career.