The LA Clippers are again connected to a guard with now less than a week left before the NBA trade deadline. This time, the guard is a bigger name.
According to Marc Stein, the LA Clippers are exploring trades for Lonzo Ball.
Ball is apparently frustrated in New Orleans if comments by his father are to be believed. The former second overall pick is having a career-year statistically for the Pelicans but is quickly taking the back seat to the team’s other two stars, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
The Clippers, with a well-chronicled need for a playmaking upgrade, are exploring trade routes to acquiring New Orleans' Lonzo Ball before next Thursday's NBA trade deadline, league sources say.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 19, 2021
At 14.2 points per game on 42.5% shooting, the scoring would be an upgrade. However, his 5.6 assists per game this season would be the most welcome addition. These numbers are actually down from last season when he averaged 7.0 per game.
With the Clippers in need of a playmaker, getting Ball would be an ideal situation. He’s making $11.0 million this season and will enter restricted free agency next season. The Clippers would be able to match any offers made for him, assuming they stay under the hard cap.
Getting a deal done for Lonzo will be the difficult part, however. He is still a talented young player and the Clippers aren’t exactly flush with assets. Matching salary would likely require one of Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, or Ivica Zubac to be sent out in any potential deal.
Each player is a key piece of the team’s rotation so moving one of them would be difficult to swallow. The team would likely also have to include some of their second-round picks as well as a young prospect such as Terance Mann or Mfiondu Kabengele.
Stein does note that the Clippers’ lack of assets does hurt them and it’s entirely possible that a third team does have to get involved. I won’t begin to speculate what that could entail but it does make sense given the team’s current situation.
This rumor will be something to keep our eyes on as the team tries to shore up their roster before the trade deadline. Make sure to keep checking here for all your LA Clippers’ news, rumors, and more!