Although the trade deadline is an exciting scene for the NBA community, teams like the LA Clippers must make moves with precision, as they have no room for players that do not fit.
Furthermore, with the trade of Bamba and veteran P.J. Tucker, the Clippers’ roster appears to click much better. The chemistry and synergy will inevitably rise, and the bench should be able to make a statement nightly with two newly acquired talents, Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills.
In other news, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks went through with a deal that involved Anthony Davis, Luka Dončić, and several other players and draft picks.
Moreover, the on-court translation is something the Lakers and Mavericks did not assess before finalizing their recent blockbuster trade. This works out for the Clippers, as Dallas and Los Angeles are two teams that present competition to head coach Tyronn Lue.
The Lakers’ decision to accept was a long-term move, which helps the Clippers’ current stance.
After the transaction, the LA Clippers are the sixth seed, just one seed behind the Los Angeles Lakers. This increases the gravity of their trade for Luka Dončić, as their ultimate goal to win the NBA Finals is the same as the Clippers.
Though accepting a trade for Dončić is almost always an immediate yes, their short-term success could see regression. The five-time all-star is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, but his playstyle is similar to four-time champion LeBron James.
Dončić and James are two ball-dominant players who excel through scoring and playmaking. When playing together, one of the two will have to adjust off the ball. This is a change neither player has come across in the NBA.
Additionally, the Lakers lost Anthony Davis, a nine-time all-star and two-time defensive player of the year, which significantly hurt their frontcourt.
Dallas may have Anthony Davis, but they lost a top-three player in the NBA, which pushes them off the Clippers’ radar.
Luka Dončić is commonly known for feasting against the LA Clippers. He recently sent LA home in the first round and eventually made the NBA Finals. Additionally, he co-existed excellently with Kyrie Irving, an NBA great.
With Anthony Davis, the Mavericks’ big-man rotation is phenomenal. However, they already had young forces like Daniel Gafford and Derrick Lively to defend the paint.
Conversely, they lost a franchise building block, one that may finish as a top-ten player in NBA history, for a near 32-year-old center who may not be able to compare to the playoff riser Dončić was.
Dallas could slip away from the play-in tournament, keeping them out of range from a postseason series with the Clippers.