In an attempt to build a future from scratch, the most common and effective method is to trade away superstars and high-quality role players for younger talents with immense potential. This is usually followed by a change in staff, as most teams find a young head coach to pair with a youthful environment.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a great example, as they traded with the LA Clippers and received a package centered around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and draft picks. After Gilgeous-Alexander's first season in Oklahoma City, Billy Donovan, the Thunder's coach at the time, was replaced by 35-year-old Mark Daigneault.
However, the Clippers cannot necessarily choose this route, as the terms of Kawhi Leonard's and James Harden's contracts complicate things. The front office would have to wait two more regular seasons before they can advance a rebuild.
Until then, the Clippers can position themselves in an unorthodox way that is almost guaranteed, given the current circumstances. This ultimately pertains to trading with the Boston Celtics for Jrue Holiday.
The LA Clippers have a massive underrated advantage they can maximize through trading for Jrue Holiday from the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics most likely did not envision Jrue Holiday declining within 365 days after extending him, but this is the reality, and their front office has to pay the cost. This is their learning lesson: not to write a blank check to an aging veteran.
Because Holiday's contract holds unreasonable weight, the Celtics are not in a position to request a specific return. They will likely take whatever is on the table and show bias to the contenders offering expiring deals.
The LA Clippers can use this information to their advantage and ask for first-round picks in return for giving up Bogdan Bogdanović and Derrick Jones Jr., who both have better market value than Holiday. Drew Eubanks' $4.75 million will also make an appearance as a salary-filler.
The Clippers would be overpaying by inserting Jones Jr. and Bogdanović, but the valuable firsts coming their way would instantly even the transaction.
Once the draft capital touches down in Inglewood, California, it should be pushed to the side and kept out of sight. Regardless of how much temptation LA's front office feels to combine them and acquire another star, it will only result in additional consequences when the time to rebuild arrives.
That said, this surprising advantage the Clippers would have in accepting Holiday's salary should be the primary motivator in bartering with the Celtics' front office.