A player teams across the league might be scared to risk on through the trade market is Kristaps Porzingis. He recently signed a two-year, $40 million extension with the Golden State. Near the end of the offseason, it was discovered that he is unfortunately sidelined for the foreseeable future due to “recurring symptoms from the autoimmune condition termed as POTS,” according to Shams Charania, which has the Warriors looking to move him.
While it may not be ideal for the LA Clippers to make a splash for Porzingis, it’s not a bad idea if the Warriors are willing to part with a future unprotected first-round pick in the era after Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Theoretically, Golden State might cave to move off the big man’s contract that almost no one would take on.
The LA Clippers should do execute a trade for Porzingis just for the pick
In a more favorable situation, where the LA Clippers didn’t desperately need draft picks, they should absolutely stay away from Kristaps Porzingis. It’s uncertain whether he’ll return to the court, and on top of that, he comes with the heavy baggage of a $20 million annual salary.
However, because of the cap-circumvention investigation involving Kawhi Leonard, in which five first-round picks vanished in the blink of an eye, the Clippers must strategize to salvage their future.
One way is taking on a bad contract, like Porzingis, if it means getting picks in return.
It’s definitely worth noting that the Clippers would not be trading with a team at the top of the Western Conference, who will be competing for a championship for years to come, like the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
With Stephen Curry and Draymond Green nearing the end of their careers, the Warriors will soon enter a rebuild. This means their chances of landing a lottery selection are relatively high, increasing the value of their draft assets in the future.
So, if the Clippers make a deal with Golden State and get an unprotected first after Curry and Green’s playing days, they could be in the perfect position to snag a top prospect down the road.
It’s a less ideal way to restock the draft room, but with how much cap space the Clippers are set to have, it’s worth it.
And, who knows? Porzingis may return and contribute while he’s still on the books. This would make the decision to trade for him significantly better.
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