Why the LA Clippers should say no.
If the front office went through with a trade for Fred VanVleet, the LA Clippers would end up moving in the wrong direction once the playoffs arrive. While he may be a great passer and defender, VanVleet’s efficiencies would ruin the flow of Lue’s offense.
So far this season, VanVleet is shooting 38.9% from the field and 34.1% from three, with a true shooting percentage of 53.9. These numbers invalidate his season average of 19.1 points per game, as he is attempting extremely difficult shots. Fans should also note that with the way the scoring has been improving, the last thing the Clippers need is an inefficient point guard.
Additionally, a young piece in Dalano Banton may be great for the future, but right now, there is a chance he will not have a spot in the rotation. This leaves the veteran forward, Juancho Hernangomez, who is on an expiring contract.
Moreover, trading an unproven point guard like Jason Preston would be a mistake, as he has shown flashes of the floor general the Clippers genuinely need. Not to mention the Raptors would receive two more young stars in Amir Coffey and Brandon Boston Jr, along with a championship-level role player in Robert Covington.
That said, this trade is unreasonable for the LA Clippers as VanVleet’s talents would hold Lue’s scheme from evolving to the next level. Lue and his staff would see no benefits through this trade, especially considering that they would have to give up a future draft pick in the process.