Grade the Trade: Clippers could add Conley to boost best lineups

The LA Clippers are not a team to sit the NBA Trade Deadline out. They have been hyper-aggressive under the ownership of Steve Ballmer, armed with the spending power afforded them by one of the world’s richest men. They have added a number of players in past deadlines, from Norman Powell and Robert Covington to Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac.

They will almost certainly be active this season as well, and with the clock ticking towards the deadline their targets have seemed to come into focus. For a team loaded with wings, the league’s most valuable commodities, they are targeting a backup center and an upgrade at point guard.

The LA Clippers are targeting an upgrade at point guard at the Trade Deadline

Reggie Jackson fits a lot of what this team likes at point guard, with his long wingspan and fearless approach to shot-taking. He’s essentially built like a wing running the point. The problem is that his play has fallen off since his standout 2020-21 season, and this season is shooting just 41.8 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from deep.

John Wall, signed to give this team some verve, hasn’t been able to reclaim his former speed or his former impact. Currently injured again, the Clippers can’t expect to go to battle with this combination in the playoffs. Sliding Terance Mann or Norman Powell to the 1 can fill in the gaps, but it’s obvious the Clippers want to find an upgrade by the deadline.

Looking around the league, there is one team with a proven veteran point guard who is likely open to doing business for the right offer. The Utah Jazz, for all that they are having an unexpectedly solid season, will move most of their roster if the price is right. Can the Clippers put together a package for former All-Star point guard Mike Conley?