As the LA Clippers have a number of expiring contracts they may soon look to get rid of at the trade deadline, there’s a good chance they will only be looking to get back picks in return, whether that’s in the first or second round. Why? The Clippers lost a handful of draft capital because of the NBA’s cap circumvention punishment involving two-time champion Kawhi Leonard.
That said, Fran Levia of Fadeaway World proposed a trade idea: Kris Dunn, a 32-year-old defensive ace, to the Boston Celtics for three second-round picks, and honestly, it is a great move for both sides. LA gets a much-needed boost in draft compensation, and Boston obtains a guard that could really make a difference in Joe Mazzulla’s backcourt.
Kris Dunn to the Boston Celtics makes perfect sense, no matter how you look at it
For most teams, the addition of three second-round picks may be a slight boost to the draft department. But for the LA Clippers, it’s huge, as they were just gutted of five first-rounders by the NBA. And it gets better when you realize some of the Clippers’ most notable young talents over the years, like Terance Mann, Jordan Miller, Moussa Diabate, and Kobe Sanders, were all second-round selections.
Just imagine what Lawrence Frank and the front office could do with three more. Ultimately, executing this trade with the Boston Celtics is a win for the Clippers' organization.
For the Celtics, there are plenty of reasons why they would benefit by agreeing.
To start, Dunn has league-wide experience and, in his 10th season, averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, shooting 47.6% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc in 82 games.
These numbers suggest Dunn can offer solid scoring with excellent efficiency and top-tier availability, which is extremely hard to find nowadays.
This doesn’t even touch on his defense. He’s undoubtedly one of the best point-of-attack defenders in basketball and is someone opposing guards hate to see coming.
On the Celtics, Dunn would be the perfect complement to Payton Pritchard, a player Boston is extremely high on. He can start alongside Pritchard and support him, or come off the bench and give him a breather.
All in all, Dunn for three second-round picks is a great idea proposed by Fran Levia. Both teams would benefit from the trade, which is why they should agree with no hesitation.
