3 Point guards the LA Clippers should target in a trade
LA Clippers trade target No. 3: Immanuel Quickley
If the Clippers want to swing in the other direction, injecting some youth into their rotation to help extend the life of their supporting cast, then a name to call about is Immanuel Quickley. The third-year guard for the New York Knicks has the makeup of a player who would thrive alongside other ball-dominant stars.
His role has been yanked around with the Knicks, but when he is given significant run, he has stepped up to the plate and shown off the skillset that has made him something of a fan favorite in the Big Apple and a player the team has been reluctant to trade. Things are starting to change in the Knicks’ front office, perhaps as they start to hear the music, and reports are that they are willing to listen on trades for Quickley.
Quickley is the best defender of all of the options discussed, the point guards on the Clippers now, and the previous two trade options. He is long and active, with fast hands for steals and the length to disrupt passing lanes and take on wings. He’s a perfect fit, in other words, for a switch-heavy scheme like what the Clippers run.
On offense, he has excellent shooting form and is an 88 percent free-throw shooter for his career, which suggests his 35.9 percent from deep will go up. He isn’t a classic pick-and-roll point guard but he can move the ball and puts pressure on the rim in transition. He won’t lead an offense to great heights, but he could fit in around other stars extremely well.
None of these three point guards are perfect solutions, but all of them bring something interesting to the table as potential trade options for the Clippers. For a team that is focused on building the right supporting cast around their two stars, these are the conversations the Clips need to have as they keep their sight focused on the highest prize.
