The NBA season is inching closer and closer to the halfway mark, and this season has already left many surprises. Most importantly, the LA Clippers, who have one of the oldest yet best rosters in the NBA, are currently positioned outside the playoffs, and find themselves 13th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference.
For a team that had its sights on a championship, calling this season a disappointment is an understatement. While there has been no shortage of chemistry drama, no fan expected their record to be what it is at this point.
The Clippers obvious next move is a roster reset
While the LA Clippers currently have a five-game win streak to their credit, barring the streak continues until the All-Star break, the end is in sight for this roster, as a reset is needed. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden have been great, but they are not getting any younger. The only pieces that may not regress over the next five years for this team are Ivica Zubac and John Collins.
While Kobe Sanders, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Kobe Brown, and TyTy Washington Jr. are on the roster, they leave a lot to be desired. They have shown flashes, but not enough to warrant a payday at this point. With that being said, why not shake up the roster to allow them to prove themselves?
That opportunity starts with selling. In the NBA, there are always many teams that wait too long to try and get assets for their aging talent.
Look at the Miami Heat when LeBron James left, the Los Angeles Lakers towards the end of Kobe Bryant's career, and the Chicago Bulls after the 90s dynasty. While the Lakers and Heat have been back to the finals since, the Bulls have been less fortunate with their success.
Teams that decided to sell include the Oklahoma City Thunder, where they dealt Russell Westbrook and Paul George, the Utah Jazz trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and the infamous Boston Celtics trade to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Jazz deal is still too recent to grade, but the other two are much clearer. The Clippers' situation makes this idea more enticing. They are slated to have max-contract money this offseason, meaning they can sign a new star while filling out the roster with young rookies for the future.
Nonetheless, the NBA trade season has started, and it should kick off with Lawrence Frank moving Chris Paul for most likely a second-round pick. If the team is five games or more under .500, they should consider trading the stars, and really everyone over the age of 30.
The NBA is a business of assets, and the Clippers need to put themselves in a position to succeed.