Trade the fifth overall pick for a superstar, and continue to try to win now, or stay put with a mindset focused on the future; that’s two different options, both with pros and cons, the LA Clippers have had on the table. However, according to Jake Fischer of ‘The Stein Line’, the Clippers are currently not operating as if they’re going to let go of their spot in the lottery for a veteran, like Jaylen Brown or Giannis Antetokounmpo, implying a firm decision has been made.
Fischer added that the Clippers have worked out a ton of prospects outside of the consensus top four. This is worth noting as a clear, indirect sign that a bright young talent will soon be added to LA’s roster.
In the grand scheme of things, the fans are surely as happy as can be; a reset is long overdue, and negotiating a blockbuster deal delays it further.
The Clippers made the right call not to trade the No. 5 pick for a veteran
The LA Clippers have had numerous chances to make a splash and keep trying to reach championship contention with Kawhi Leonard. They could’ve pushed strongly for Jaylen Brown or Giannis Antetokounmpo, and even made a serious inquiry that may have gone somewhere for a guy like Donovan Mitchell.
And, though they would’ve faced criticism for doing so, the argument Lawrence Frank could pull out from his back pocket is that Leonard is still at the peak of his career, and they want to make the most of it by pairing him up with someone legit.
That’s fair, as he did just average 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, which earned him All-Star and All-NBA honors.
But the front office didn’t. They know the value behind the pick in stock, so they centered their attention on a wide range of prospects projected to be taken in the lottery and took some unique measures to narrow guys off their board.
In fact, according to Cody Taylor of ‘The Rookie Wire’, LA has worked out countless guards they've been rumored to take, like Mikel Brown Jr., Keaton Wagler, Brayden Burries, etc. Additionally, multiple trade-down options have visited the Clippers.
All in all, based on Jake Fischer’s report and the signs the Clippers have shown, the fans’ worst fear won’t transpire. This is certainly good to know, with the draft getting closer with each passing day.
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