As the NBA trade deadline seemed to flow slower than usual, the LA Clippers cooked a trade that quickly turned the market up a notch. This is the type of package fans were eagerly waiting on, as the front office created space to buy out a point guard.
Furthermore, executive Lawrence Frank came to an agreement with the Utah Jazz that consisted of veteran forward P.J. Tucker and big man Mo Bamba. He also had to include cash and a second-round pick to receive bench assistance in Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers, a rival of the Clippers, capped Frank’s expertise significantly by trading for NBA superstar Luka Dončić, as well as veterans Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. This was a three-team deal involving the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks.
Utah received Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 Clippers’ second-round pick, and a 2025 Mavericks’ second-round pick.
The Mavericks, who reportedly initiated talks with the Lakers, ended up with two-way superstar Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles.
Mavs APPROACHED the Lakers and offered to trade Luka, per @ShamsCharania
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 2, 2025
Luka did not request a trade, per @TheSteinLine 😳 pic.twitter.com/6uRWcq23xz
Although the Clippers are not directly involved, they will eventually encounter the repercussions of arguably the most shocking trade in NBA history.
The LA Clippers must rise higher to compete with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since the NBA Bubble, the LA Clippers have not had the best luck in the playoffs. Now, with the trade of Luka Dončić, the Clippers are pressured to stay healthy to contend. They will need every ounce of dominance from stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden to crush Dončić and LeBron James.
Moreover, Dončić and James are now seen as the NBA’s most dynamic tandem. Their scoring, playmaking, and high IQ may exceed what the Clippers produce.
Conversely, with Anthony Davis on the Mavericks, starting center Ivica Zubac will benefit from a potential postseason matchup with the Lakers. He will be assigned to Jaxson Hayes rather than Davis, assuming no other trades arise.
The Clippers still have three regular-season games to play against the Lakers. These have become much more important for the Clippers, as wins could decide standings in the Western Conference.
The upcoming Battle of LA is on February 4th, 2025.
That said, the Clippers are among the franchises most impacted by this trade. They face heavy competition in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference, as the Lakers are one seed ahead of Lue and his squad.