As the LA Clippers dismissed the pressure and avoided trading for an all-star, Lawrence Frank was among the most active executives at the trade deadline. He was patient in who he had an eye on, and when the green light appeared, Frank struck gold for head coach Tyronn Lue.
Furthermore, the Clippers are among the few teams that won the February deadline. Frank turned a tight situation upside down and paved the way for the Clippers to land multiple top-tier role players.
On Saturday, February 1st, the Clippers opened up the salary cap by trading P.J. Tucker, Mo Bamba, cash, and a second-round pick to the Utah Jazz for Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills. This trade was just the start, as Frank was waiting to see what other teams had to offer for players on LA’s trade block.
On deadline day, Frank completed the unimaginable and traded Terance Mann, who had recently been extended, and Bones Hyland to the Atlanta Hawks for multiple second-round picks and Bogdan Bogdanović.
This move was a game-changer for the Clippers, as they are relieved of Mann’s extension, which begins next season. If Bogdanović underperforms, LA could decline his team option and make him a free agent after next season.
After the Clippers negotiated with Atlanta, fans assumed Frank was done for the 2025 deadline and had shifted his attention to the buyout market.
Conversely, Frank had one more move left in the tank, as he agreed to barter Kevin Porter Jr. to the Milwaukee Bucks for their 2022 first-round pick, MarJon Beauchamp. Frank indicated that the Clippers were looking for another ball handler to complete their bench after Hyland and Porter Jr. left LA.
As predicted, the Clippers listened to their fans and signed former first-overall pick Ben Simmons to a contract through the rest of the 2024-25 regular season.
With all of these additions, here is the starting lineup and depth chart Lue will likely follow if the Clippers remain healthy.
LA Clippers’ finalized depth chart and starting lineup.
- PG: James Harden, Kris Dunn, Patty Mills
- SG: Norman Powell, Bogdan Bogdanović, Cam Christie
- SF: Derrick Jones Jr., Amir Coffey, MarJon Beauchamp, Jordan Miller(Two-Way), Trentyn Flowers(Two-Way)
- PF: Kawhi Leonard, Nicolas Batum, Kobe Brown
- C: Ivica Zubac, Ben Simmons, Drew Eubanks, Kai Jones(Two-Way)
Simmons is inserted into Lue’s rotation in a unique role, as he can facilitate behind starting big man Ivica Zubac.
That said, the Clippers’ depth chart after their recent moves appears strong enough to compete for and win the Western Conference.