Grade the trade idea: LA Clippers land the next Russell Westbrook
The Clippers land Scoot Henderson and more for Paul George
Before draft night, LA Clipper fans were unsure whether Paul George would be traded for the third overall pick. This falls on the Trail Blazers as they did not know how to manage Damian Lillard’s situation. Therefore Portland went ahead and drafted the best player available, Scoot Henderson.
Days after the draft, reports were released that Lillard is committed to Portland and wants to stay to fight for a championship. This is excellent news for the Clippers, as the Trail Blazers might have to move on from Henderson.
BREAKING: After discussing Portland’s future with Damian Lillard, the Blazers continue to “stay committed to building a winner around Dame.” pic.twitter.com/EpSrpJipS2
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 27, 2023
Ultimately, LA would have to trade George, but they would receive a hefty return. This gives Portland another superstar to build around and allows the Clippers to enter their long-awaited rebuild for the future.
Furthermore, this trade ships George to the Trail Blazers for Henerson, Cam Reddish, and Nassir Little. These are three young stars that the Clippers are receiving for a 33-year-old superstar that is in the midst of his prime. In particular, Henderson has serious potential to become the best point guard in the league if he lives up to the hype.
However, Reddish and Little can also become critical contributors down the road. Both players are searching for an opportunity to thrive, and the Clippers are the perfect destination. What’s more, head coach Tyronn Lue and his staff will allow these guys to develop and do what they do best fully.
At this point, there would be no better offer for the Clippers, giving them no reason to deny this trade package.