The LA Clippers have surprised this season. The decision to let Paul George walk continues to look wise as LA sits fifth in the West, despite Kawhi playing just four games. The Clippers are not perfect and may look to upgrade before the deadline.
The latest trade saw the Suns acquire Nick Richards for Josh Okgie and a couple of second-round draft picks. It is the type of move that would go unnoticed in a flurry of transactions. Clippers fans may not have even noticed, but it has a significant impact on LA’s former big man.
Mason Plumlee has started the last nine games for Phoenix. The Suns benched Jusuf Nurkic and are looking to move him. Plumlee benefitted, but he may be out of the rotation entirely when Richards arrives. Here is a look at why.
Uneventful trade is awful news for former Clippers’ big man Mason Plumlee
Plumlee was traded to Los Angeles at the 2023 deadline in a Reggie Jackson swap. He helped the Clippers secure a playoff spot in back-to-back years and even played 18.2 minutes per contest off the bench in the 2023 postseason. His rebounding and passing chops make him a desired reserve big man.
The 34-year-old is overtaxed in a starting role at this stage. His minutes have dipped in recent years and it appears he now is best suited to be a back up.
The Suns drafted Oso Ighodaro with the 40th overall pick in 2024, and the 6’10 big man has played well as a rookie. Phoenix is light on young talent and draft capital. They need to develop the 22-year-old as a key part of their future. Does that keep him as the backup big man and knock Plumlee out of the rotation?
Some nights it will. The Suns know Ighodaro needs reps. Plumlee will get chances, but do not expect him to start and there will be nights where he never leaves the bench. Phoenix needed an upgrade at the five and had to add athleticism to their aging roster. They have zero regrets about this trade, but it was not good news for Mason Plumlee.
Plumlee played parts of two seasons with the Clippers, including the entire 2023-24 campaign. LA made the playoffs both times but failed to advance beyond the first round. They were wise to move on and add depth from their cap space. The Clippers are on pace to make the playoffs and could be a dangerous matchup if Kawhi is healthy.
The LA Clippers figure to make moves before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Stay tuned to see what the front office can pull off, and keep an eye on Plumlee’s minutes. This trade was not a positive for him, but it should take the pressure off the veteran to play more than he should at this stage of his career. We will all find out soon enough.