The Los Angeles Clippers shocked the world by dealing superstar forward Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 29. With a few weeks left until the NBA trade deadline, the Clippers are sitting at 25-24 in the 9th seed of the Western Conference with many options in front of them.
A .500 winning percentage is not bad for a team that lost of their several key players in free agency this past offseason. However, the Clippers chose a new direction by dealing Griffin for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round pick and a second-round pick.
The Clippers and Pistons have agreed on a deal to trade Blake Griffin for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round and a second-round draft pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 29, 2018
Will the Clippers stay the course and risk losing some key players in free agency after the season? Can they cash in some assets to secure draft picks for the future? Will they build around DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams? Can they move players high salary players like Danilo Gallinari ahead of the deadline?
These are all questions the Clippers must ask themselves after trading Blake Griffin.
Los Angeles Clippers Trade Deadline Assets
Before looking at what the Clippers should do at the NBA trade deadline, there needs to be an assessment of the current assets on L.A.'s roster after the Griffin trade.
Throughout the season, Lou Williams and DeAndre Jordan have been at the center of every Clippers trade rumor. Both veterans are a huge reason why the Clippers have remained relevant this season. It was surprising that neither was traded before Griffin.
Williams has posted a 50-point game, 10-steal game, a 40-point night off the bench in one of his best seasons. The veteran is on an expiring deal which pays him about $7 million this season. At age 31, Williams is having a career-year. He is averaging 23.6 points, 5.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.5 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game. Despite only having 14 starts this season, he is considered an All-Star snub after putting up these numbers in 47 appearances.
Additionally, Jordan recently set the franchise record for most game appearances. He's averaging 11.9 points, 14.7 rebounds and 1 block in 32 minutes per game. The Clippers center is also shooting a career-high 60 percent from the free throw line. Jordan is 29-years-old and the seven-footer can become a free agent this off season by opting out of his current contract that would pay him $24.1 million next year. Jordan already talked about getting moved at the deadline and he accepted that it is out of his hands. At this point, nothing is off the table.
Thus, the Clippers next move before Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline is likely to include Jordan or Williams. Head coach Doc Rivers already acknowledged both were in trade talks and that the team will do what is best for the franchise.
Otherwise, Willie Reed and Montrezl Harrell actually seem like young players worth holding onto but L.A. might move them in a deal that upgrades the Clippers starting five.
On the other hand, Wesley Johnson and Patrick Beverly both have moveable contracts. Beverly has a team option that would pay him around $5 million next season. Johnson is owed about $6 million this year and next year.
Speaking of veterans, Milos Teodosic and Austin Rivers are also decent trade pieces although both have been banged up this season. Rivers is owed $11.82 million this season and he has a player option which would pay him $12.65 million next year. Teodosic is owed $6 million this season and $6.3 million next year. Teodosic seems like a great fit for the Clippers and Austin's dad is the head coach so it appears neither one gets traded.
Finally, Danilo Gallinari is only into the first year of a deal which will pay him over $20 million for each of the next three seasons. It is unlikely they will find a team to take on that contract but they should. Gallinari was a complimentary piece signed to bring shooting beside Griffin.
Otherwise, the Clippers roster consists of many young players that aren't much more than a throw-in for salary or development reasons. Here are some trades the Clippers should consider before the NBA trade deadline.
10. Staples Center trade
The Lakers find themselves into every trade talk. However, it is unlikely the Clippers deal with their Staple Center roommates. Not to mention, the Lakers aren't exactly in win-now mode and they already have plenty of cap flexibility with multiple expiring contracts.
Still, the Lakers will consider any deal that gets them out of Luol Deng's contract. Deng is making over $17 million this year despite only appearing in one game. The 32-year-old will make more than $36 million over the next two years. Is getting Julius Randle worth Deng's contract for the Clippers?
Randle becomes a restricted free agent this year or he can accept a qualifying offer. Either way, he is averaging 13.7 points and 7.3 rebounds which makes him a nice forward for the Clippers to help fill the void left by Griffin. At least, the Clippers get to try out and Randle and assess his value for half a season if they make this deal.
On the other side, the Lakers get cap relief if Jordan opts out of his contract after the season. Otherwise, Jordan might opt-in to be the defensive center that helps the Lakers attract free agents next year. Either way, Jordan will help the Lakers improve on defense and he is the lob-catching big that helps the Purple and Gold win immediately.
Both L.A. teams could lose Jordan and Randle for nothing. Therefore, a swap at the trade deadline could make sense. The Clippers and Lakers could do far worse at the deadline.
9. Miami frontcourt Swap
This is a trade that is probably too simple happen. However, it is still rumored that the Heat and Clippers have interest in swapping centers. It is rumored that Miami could swap Hassan Whiteside for DeAndre Jordan before the trade deadline.
Jordan isn't quite the offensive player that Whiteside is. Nonetheless, Jordan shoots a higher percentage and averages more rebounds per game. They're around the same age butt Jordan has two seasons more experience and more playoff games. The Clippers center has been more available and healthy over his career than Whiteside too.
The biggest difference between the two bigs is contracts. Jordan can become a free agent after this season if he exercises his player option. Whiteside has an option too but it is the following year. There are some other options.
Maybe, Miami wants the added cap flexibility? Maybe, they want Jordan's durability and rebounding ability. The Heat might prefer D.J.'s uptempo style too. He could be a long-term fit for the Heat.
For the Clippers, Whiteside gives them a seven-footer who is guaranteed for this year and next. His back-to-the-basket offense might be valuable in the post-Griffin era too. This is how they erase the remains of Lob City at the trade deadline.
8. Build around Kemba Walker
The Clippers should not rule out trading for Kemba Walker if they want to stay competitive this season. The Hornets guard has been in rumors all season and he is averaging 22.1 points, 3. 5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game.
At age 27, Walker is a bargain making $12 million this year and another $12 million next season. He could help the Clippers finally forget about Chris Paul.
Short-term, the Hornets get Lou Williams scoring ability and expiring contract. They might even flip Williams for a draft pick or buy him out immediately. Long-term Charlotte trades Batum's bloated contract for Gallinari's which is a little more reasonable.
Both players have similar stat lines and injury reports but Gallinari has one less year on his deal. Gallo is more of an offensive threat while Batum brings his reputation as a defender. The Clippers also send Montrezl Harrell who seems like a decent young player. Harrell is averaging 8.7 points and 4 rebounds for L.A. and the Hornets might find a role for him.
Is Walker worth Batum's contract? That remains to be seen but it is something many teams will ask themselves if they're looking to get Walker at the trade deadline. In a guard-heavy league, the Clippers might think adding Walker is worth losing the long-term cap space.
7. Nuggets backcourt swap
Here is a simple swap that would help out both the Clippers and the Nuggets. Denver is a game ahead of the Clippers in the playoff standing and this trade might help them stay there. On the other hand, the Clippers gain some younger assets.
Will Barton is having a career year at age 27 but he is slated to hit free agency after this year. Emmanuel Mudiay is only 21-years-old but he seems to be following in and out of favor with the Nuggets.
Meanwhile, Williams is a veteran with some playoff experience. Williams is known for his work ethic and scoring ability which is a welcomed addition in Denver. He also has some chemistry with Paul Millsap dating to their time in Atlanta. When Millsap returns they can build on that experience.
Either way, Lou fits the uptempo style in Denver. Still, Williams can walk after this season but Barton can too so that should not be a deal breaker. Plus, the Nuggets are consolidating their assets to give more playing time to other back court players like Jamal Murray and Gary Harris.
This deal works if the Nuggets want to keep Mudiay or Barton. They can easily swap out either player for Trey Lyles or Juan Hernangomez. The Clippers should consider any combination of those young players for Lou.
Barton and Mudiay should be their preference at the deadline because they would replace Williams' production in the backcourt. Maybe, the Clipps can add a second round pick to make this trade easier on Denver too.
6. Milwaukee trades for DeAndre
Insert the Bucks as another team with DeAndre Jordan at the top of their wish list. Jordan makes sense for Milwaukee improving their chances in the Eastern Conference. His length and rebounding could give the Bucks an edge over the second-tier teams in the East.
Los Angeles could make this deal work them in multiple ways. They should ask for reigning rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon but the Bucks may hesitate to move him for Jordan. Jordan can walk after this season.
Therefore, L.A. should settle for Jabari Parker and John Henson. Henson is a younger than Jordan by a couple of years and he is averaging 8.7 points and 6.7 rebounds. Parker has been a great player when he is not recovering from injury. L.A. might be willing to take a risk on him before he hits free agency after this season. At the worst, Parker is an expiring contract and Henson is a capable starting center on a bargain contract.
Otherwise, the Clippers could ask for the contracts of Tony Snell or Matthew Dellavedova as well as another young player like Brogdon or Thon Maker. Snell and Dellavedova make less sense for the Clippers guard-heavy roster and they're contracts are longer than Henson. Brogdon and Maker seem like they're in the Bucks' long-term plans anyway. Thus, a Parker and Henson swap makes the most sense for both parties.
5. Send Jordan to Portland
The Blazers are constantly interested in Jordan, per rumors. It makes sense since Jordan would give the Blazers an imposing defensive presence. He would catch lobs and follow rebounds for Portland too. His added cap flexibility is a welcomed bonus.
For the Clippers, they would get Nurkic who is a 23-year-old center averaging 14.3 points and 8 rebounds. Nurkic test free agency or play another year on a qualifying offer. Either way, the prospect of the Clippers keeping Nurkic after this season is higher than their odds of keeping D.J.
Turner also gives L.A. a versatile player off the bench. He has never lived up to his No. 2 draft selection or the fat contract Portland gave him but Turner has career averages of 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
At 29, Turner might never be worth the $36 million owed to him after these next two seasons. However, the Clippers will probably have to take back some bad salary from the Blazers in any deal. Turner makes sense since he still fills a void off the bench. Maybe, Portland even adds a second-round pick because Turner's contract is so bad.
4. Call the Kings for some talent
Despite trading five-time All-Star Blake Griffin, the Clippers are not expected to embrace a full rebuild. Instead, they will look to get younger and more competitive. Thus, the Kings make sense as a willing trade partner. Sacramento offers veterans and youth.
The deal has to start with the Kings sending George Hill. Hill is no longer starting in Sacramento as they are playing more of their young players in the backcourt. Hill has been planning to get traded for a while. Maybe, Sacramento would consider swapping him with DeAndre Jordan?
Hill is a combo guard with a lot of playoff experience. He could help the Clippers if they do finish in the playoffs. Plus, Jordan is an expiring contract and an ideal mentor for Willie Cauley-Stein and Georgios Papagiannis.
Of course, the deal is not that easy. The Clippers need some incentive for taking on Hill's three-year, $57 million deal that he signed in the offseason. Hence, the Clippers would ask for a young player like Skal Labissiere in return. Labissiere is essentially a younger Jordan.
For Sacramento, Jordan might seem redundant alongside veteran big-men like Kosta Koufos and Zach Randolph. He might even be redundant beside Cauley-Stein. Jordan can leave after this season too.
Nonetheless, the Kings should consider this deal because it gives them more cap flexibility. Trading Hill frees up playing time for Malachi Richardson, Frank Mason III, Buddy Hield and Bogdan Bogdanovic which is addition by subtraction. The Clippers could even ask for one of those players in return as a substitute for Labissiere if the 21-year-old center is a deal breaker for Sacramento.
3. Get rid of Danilo Gallinari's contract
If the Clippers are serious about competing for LeBron James in free agency they better get started. That means moving long-term salary off the books. Danilo Gallinari is by far the worst contract on the roster.
Gallinari has only appeared in 11 games this season for L.A. He is averaging 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds which is around his career averages. The former Denver Nugget has battled injuries throughout his career.
On the other hand, Nikola Mirotic is averaging 16.8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 25 games for a rebuilding Bulls team. He has wanted out since he had a facial injury at the hands of Bobby Portis as well. Chicago is expected to trade him at the deadline so they don't have a ton of leverage.
The Clippers and Bulls could agree to swap baggage here. Both players are in the first year of deals they just signed in the offseason. They're both the combo, stretch-forwards for their teams too. Still, Mirotic is 26 while Gallinari is 29.
A swap works since the Bulls have cap room. It is unlikely Chicago wanst to take that additional money for nothing since Gallo is owed over $20 mill. until 2020. The Clippers can add a first or second round pick to make the swap easier for Chicago. Getting Gallo off the books is worth that additional pick.
2. Cleveland finally gets D.J.
The Cavs have tried to get Jordan multiple times. This deal has been out there for a long time but the Cavs seem to get more desperate for a trade by the day. The deal stalls over the Clippers' wish for Cleveland's rights to Brooklyn's pick, per multiple reports. Still, the trade deadline is approaching and Cleveland might actually feel the need to part ways with the Nets' draft pick.
Additionally, the Cavaliers get Williams' scoring punch and expiring deal so that should help soften the blow of losing the draft pick. Williams' catch-and-shoot abilities and versatility to play both guard positions make him a wanted addition for the Cavaliers. Lou is also a more willing defender than some of the other guards on the Cavs' roster. Perimeter protection is second to the main attraction of this blockbuster.
Moreover, Cleveland gains Jordan who is an upgrade at center over Thompson. Jordan may opt into his deal for one more year to play with LeBron and Love if both are with the Cavs next year. The Cavs could show a willingness to build around Jordan and Love should James leave next season.
Either way, Jordan is the perfect defensive, rebounding finisher besides Love and James. There are few centers in the league who can match Jordan's athleticism. D.J. would not only catch lobs from both passing big-men but he would give the Cavs unmatchable length and rebounding in the frontcourt when he plays with James and Love.
Not to mention, the Cavs could get D.J. without trading Thompson. They could send Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert's contract for Jordan. They could even do a blockbuster that sends Kevin Love to his hometown in Los Angeles.
How about sending Love, and Shumpert for Jordan and Lou Williams? That deal could make sense if Love is really tired of Cleveland and the Cavs want to keep their pick.
In the end, acquiring the Williams and Jordan package probably makes the most sense for Cleveland in any trade deadline combination.
No. 1: Moving Lou Williams to the Celtics
If the Clippers are all-in on young players they better call the Boston Celtics. Boston owns their own first-round pick, have protected rights to the Lakers pick this year, and several protected first rounders next year (including the Clippers first rounder if it falls between 15-30). Boston guards Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smith would give the Clippers younger options in the backcourt as well. The Clippers could trade Williams for any combination of Smart or Brown and one of those first-round selections.
Brown would be the more desired asset since he is averaging 14.2 points and 5.5 rebounds but the Clippers would have to accept a lower draft choice in that exchange. On the other hand, L.A. could good get a combo-guard like Smart who is averaging 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists this season while demanding a higher draft pick from Boston. Both Smart and Brown have chemistry with the Clippers' new starting guard and former Celtic Avery Bradley which is an added bonus.
Either way, Williams' scoring firepower makes sense for Boston's playoff push. Plus, it keeps Lou away from the rival Cavs which is an added bonus.
Boston also needs to add some scoring beside Kyrie Irving. Williams' scoring touch is an asset to the Celtics' starting-five or bench unit. He is an expiring-deal which makes him very attainable for Boston too.
In this deal, L.A. gets to keep Jordan's potentially expiring contract which gives it an edge over other deals. The Clippers may decide that keeping D.J. is their best option. Thus, Los Angeles could try their best to re-sign and re-tool around Jordan in the offseason but still acquire some young assets in this deal at the trade deadline.
Honorable Mention
The Clippers should consider all teams at the NBA trade deadline, especially contenders looking to capitalize on Los Angeles' fire sale.
A team like the Wizards makes sense as a trade partner for the Clippers. They could use Lou Williams' scoring ability or Jordan's athletic, defensive presence.
However, Washington's bench is already depleted of assets. Moving Jordan for Ian Mahinmi and Marcin Gortat doesn't really cut it as younger talent. The Clippers could move Williams for Jason Smith or Markieff Morris but that undercuts Lou's value too.
Nonetheless, the Wizards could become a desirable partner at the NBA trade deadline if the Clippers are desperate for a draft pick.
Memphis and Utah might have some desirable assets for the Clippers too. The Grizzlies might try to move some big names like Mike Conley or Marc Gasol. Tyreke Evans would be a bargain too. However, Gasol and Conley have peaked and Evans is a free agent after this year.
As for the Jazz, they have some players that would fit in Los Angeles. Rodney Hood or Alec Burks might be cheaper replacements for Williams' role in L.A. The Clippers might even take on some added contract dollars like Ricky Rubio.
On the other hand, Jordan again seems like an unlikely fit in Utah due to his similarities to Rudy Gobert. Why waste Williams' career-season on a tanking team like Utah or Memphis, anyways? These might have to become a three-way deal.
Not to mention, Houston makes sense for Jordan due to his connections with Chris Paul. However, the Rockets already killed a deal involving Clint Capella. The Clippers do not need Ryan Anderson's huge contract either. Plus, it is unlikely Los Angeles wants Trevor Ariza or anyone involved in that lockerroom altercation earlier this year.
The Raptors might find some of the Clippers trade assets valuable too. Except Toronto already dealt away their first-round pick this year and they don't have many desirable contracts for L.A.
Ultimately, the Clippers need to explore all trade options while they prepare for life after Blake Griffin. They could go any number of ways at the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline.
Nonetheless, they better do their due diligence by exploring deals that help the team shed salary and add younger players. The Clippers have plenty of assets they can capitalize on at the NBA trade deadline.
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