Regarding trade discussions for a front office, the head coach must be kept in the loop. They need to prepare, sometimes spontaneously, for roster adjustments, which is why their voices are heard in internal discussions with executives and ownership.
Thus, when asked a general question about the trade deadline, head coach Tyronn Lue shared his takeaway: fine-tuning, no blockbuster deals, and nothing out of the ordinary. In retrospect, claiming this news as panic-worthy is an understatement.
I asked Tyronn Lue about the NBA trade deadline:
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 24, 2026
“In our situation, I don’t see much movement, so I think we’ll be good.”
This is a genuine fear turning into a reality all over again. Fans of the LA Clippers were already granted a free pass to a scary roller coaster when the team began 6-21, yet after 14 wins in 17 games, the front office has seemingly found it okay to sit tight, relax, and grab a cup of warm coffee, while their rivals’ phones will not stop buzzing until the deadline has arrived.
The front office is living in a false reality with the current Clippers’ roster
It should not be mistaken, the current roster the LA Clippers have will serve as legitimate playoff competition to any team in the Western Conference. Whether they end up in the play-in and work their way into the postseason from there, or finish the season so strongly that they obtain the sixth seed, any team battling LA in a seven-game series will be given a run for their money.
But, winning a series or two is never the goal; it is winning the NBA finals, and what the Clippers are working with near the end of January will not take them there.
The front office might believe that if James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are recording All-NBA-level seasons, the playoffs will be light work for them.
However, once the regular season ends, the schedule gets jam-packed, fatigue occurs faster than ever, and the workload triples, especially for superstars.
Moreover, help is not wanted; it is needed. There is a notable shortage of postseason-proven talent, and if the front office is expecting youngsters like Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller to save LA’s championship hopes in the playoffs, they will inevitably be treated with a harsh truth.
That said, the trade deadline will not come around again. It is a once-in-a-season occurrence, and if the Clippers have settled in and let their guard down now, this year will get lost in the pile of the rest that were stopped early due to the front office’s overly cautious trading style.