Following the Los Angeles Lakers trade for Luka Dončić, the competitive ropes for the LA Clippers have increasingly tightened. The spotlight will automatically be directed to Los Angeles, as the Lakers managed to pair Dončić with LeBron James, arguably the greatest player in history.
As the rivalry between the Clippers and Lakers was already intense, they are only separated by one seed . Tension has risen significantly as Los Angeles hopes to finish the season ahead of their cross-town rival.
Furthermore, the front office and head coach Tyronn Lue must swarm opponents as underdogs and win consistently. This must be the new mindset, as they may not be able to top the trade between the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
In fact, the Clippers made a move that was a win for executive Lawrence Frank, but it quickly lost its legs in the media due to what the Lakers and Mavericks agreed upon. Although the hype makes sense, Frank is in a tough predicament on the team’s next move.
Nonetheless, with the final days ticking away, the Clippers could make a splash to remain even with the Lakers after the deadline. The only problem is, who can Frank trade for that holds a reasonable price and will surely help Lue’s game plan?
The LA Clippers may trade for a star to further their rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers.
As the idea of trading for Luka Dončić came to the Lakers’ doorstep, the LA Clippers will likely have to work their way into their next proposal. They should be calling nearly every team to check the price of their desired talents.
When envisioning the next blockbuster trade, the first name that rings a bell is the all-star forward Jimmy Butler. This would be a good call, if Butler makes it known he will sign an extension with the Clippers long-term.
Additionally, the Clippers must keep stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden out of trade discussions, as they are the team’s championship blocks.
The other superstar that may be bartered for a ridiculous haul is Kevin Durant, a two-time champion.
In this case, Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell, two all-star talents, may be packaged for the Clippers to build their dream trio. Additionally, Lawrence Frank would have to include draft picks to satisfy the Suns’ wants.
That said, Frank and the Clippers have all eyes on them. They could either play conservative and stick with what they have or acquire another all-star to match the Lakers’ best players.