1. Robert Covington
One of the best moves of the 2022 trade deadline was the LA Clippers acquiring Norman Powell and Robert Covington for a bargain. Covington, in particular, was the highlight of the trade due to his ability to thrive on the defensive end. In fact, the former Tennessee State star has a case to be the best on-ball defender in the NBA.
What’s even more impressive are his numbers since being traded to the Clippers last season. Through 23 games in 2022, Covington averaged 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting an absurd 45.0% from three on 4.7 attempts. If that isn’t crazy enough, he also managed to post 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks in just 22.1 minutes per game.
Based on these numbers, the average fan would assume that Covington would be with the LA Clippers long-term, especially if they are pursuing a title. Well, that is clearly not the case, as Covington did not play much of a role in 2023.
Furthermore, each time Covington stepped on the floor, it seemed good things would happen. He would deflect the ball and rack up steals, lock down some of the best offensive stars in the league, and consistently make shots on the offensive end. The only problem was that, for an unknown reason, his minutes were limited all season. In fact, there were stretches of multiple games where he would not see the floor.
This leaves no questions about his future with the team, as he will likely be moved in the offseason. In return, the Clippers will look for a high-quality center to come off the bench. This is perfect for LA, with Covington still at an all time high.