The NBA trade deadline is just a few days away and the LA Clippers have been mentioned several times around various players in the league. With the team reportedly looking to add one final piece that will improve them on the margins, it makes sense to see their name pop up constantly.
There are some rumors that seem more believable than others though, especially given how the team’s front office has worked quietly behind the scenes over the past couple of seasons.
With so many names, it’s hard to sort out who is a probable candidate and who isn’t. That won’t stop us from trying though.
Buy or Sell for the LA Clippers: Tomas Satoransky
Tomas Satoransky was one of the early mentioned names in relation to the LA Clippers but even at the time, it seemed shaky at best. Sato’s name was mentioned by Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer, who mentioned him in passing while detailing the Clippers’ potential postseason threat.
With Sato’s salary being difficult to match, this seemed more simply like a random thought from Tjarks about a player that would fit the current roster but probably isn’t attainable.
Verdict: Sell
Buy or Sell for the LA Clippers: Evan Fournier
Another guard mentioned for the Clippers is Evan Fournier of the Orlando Magic. There’s a tiny bit more substance here but only slightly. His name comes the way of a rival executive who wouldn’t be shocked if the Clippers explored trading for him.
That doesn’t build a lot of confidence in this rumor, as any rival executive could speculate just about anything. Fournier does have an expiring contract worth $17 million, making him somewhat difficult to salary match for the Clippers without giving up Patrick Beverley plus another key piece of the team. It’s for those two reasons that I’m out.
Verdict: Sell
Buy or Sell for the LA Clippers: George Hill
Probably the most talked-about potential trade piece for the LA Clippers all season has been George Hill, and for good reason.
Hill is currently under contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite playing high minutes for the team this season (26.4 per game), it would be no shock to anyone to see the veteran on the move at the deadline to a contender.
He provides playmaking, something the Clippers need, and can still defend somewhat decently while also being a more than capable shooter. There’s also a sense of familiarity with Hill, having spent time with Paul George on the Indiana Pacers.
Hill has playoff experience with several teams, including Finals experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite being a part of that team, the Pacers, and even the San Antonio Spurs during their peak years, a championship has eluded Hill.
With a salary of just $9.5 million owed this season, Hill is one of the more attainable players the LA Clippers have been linked to. He isn’t a flashy trade piece but is someone they can get for salary filler and second-round picks. It’s not clear who the Thunder would want back from the Clippers or if a third team would have to get involved but there is potential here and Hill seems like a more than reasonable target.
Verdict: Buy
Buy or Sell for the LA Clippers: Myles Turner
Taking a minute to move away from guards, we’ll look at Myles Turner.
Turner’s name became linked to the LA Clippers after a report from the Indianapolis Star mentioned that the team had reached out to the Pacers to assess his availability. It has been frequently rumored that Turner could be moved as the team tries to focus more on Domantas Sabonis going forward.
As far as trades for the Clippers go, this would be one of the most high-profile deals they could pull off. Turner is a young player and an extremely well-respected rim protector. He is also capable offensively, especially given his ability to shoot from deep. He’s putting up 4.4 attempts from three-point land this season, converting on 32.9%.
The biggest downside to this deal would be likely having to deal Ivica Zubac. The Pacers would be able to pair him and Sabonis together a bit better, and Zubac is the Clippers most tradable young asset.
While seeing Zu go would hurt, Turner would be an upgrade, especially if the Clippers could also get back T.J. McConnell. Patrick Beverley would have to be included in any deal given Turner’s $18 million price, so the Clippers would be remiss to not try and at least bring another guard back. A deal would also likely have to include another young prospect (Terance Mann, Mfiondu Kabengele) and a bevy of second-round picks.
Even with all of that, I doubt there’s enough to get a deal done for someone of Turner’s caliber.
Verdict: Buy the interest. Sell the likelihood
Buy or Sell for the LA Clippers: Kyle Lowry
The biggest name linked to the LA Clippers thus far is Kyle Lowry.
The All-Star point guard for the Toronto Raptors has denied wanting to be traded but with his team at a crossroads, he might just be on the move. Getting a deal done for Lowry would be the most complicated move the Clippers could pull off from a salary standpoint.
While he is in the last year of his deal, Lowry is still making $30 million this season and frankly, the Clippers don’t have the pieces to make a deal for that on their own without selling off absolutely all of their depth. A third team would 100% have to get involved.
From a fit standpoint, Lowry would be the ideal point guard for this Clippers’ roster. We know how he fits with Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka. He can still play defense and is shooting 39% from deep this season. Everything he brings to the table is what the Clippers’ starting lineup needs.
That’s why it hurts so much to not think he’s not a realistic target. Unless a surprise team swoops in and helps the Clippers, it’s just not going to happen. This doesn’t mean the Clips could just bring Lowry in while another team helps match his salary, either.
The team is close to being hard capped and would still have to get nearly the $30 million off the books in order to absorb Lowry’s deal. There’s just no way I see that happening and the team feeling like they have improved overall.
Verdict: Buy the interest. Sell the likelihood.
Buy or Sell for the LA Clippers: Lonzo Ball
The most recent and arguably most interesting potential trade target comes in the form of Lonzo Ball.
I’ll save you some reading if you want: I’m all in.
Ball has shown improvement each year he has been in the league but has looked particularly good in New Orleans. His shot has improved not just in terms of how it looks but percentage-wise as well. He’s shooting 38.5% from deep this season on nearly eight attempts per game.
That type of shooting would fit perfectly next to both Kawhi and Paul George.
"Lonzo shoots 42% on spot-up threes this year, and 40% on open threes in general. If Kawhi Leonard or Paul George set him up, we could be fairly comfortable with Lonzo hitting a three in the flow of the offense."
We all know he’s a capable distributor, something the Clippers need with their starting group. No, he’s not elite but given the team’s current situation, he would be an upgrade. He’s also a stout defender, capable of guarding both the guard positions with his 6’6″ frame.
Getting Ball on this team is a difficult situation, however. He is only making $11 million this season but given that he’s a former second-overall pick and a good, young player, I’m not quite sure the team has the assets to make a move.
When the Clippers’ interest in Ball was reported, Marc Stein did note that if the deal happened, the Clips would likely be looking to work with a third team to get it done. It’s impossible to speculate what all that would entail but there does seem to be some real interest.
Given his fit and the Clippers need to get a little younger, I’m in.