There have been speculations of late that surrounds the L.A. Clippers and their intent to trade up in the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft. Theses speculations does look possible, especially with the kind of assets the team has that other front offices whose teams are higher in the draft order may find very enticing.
Michael Scotto of The Athletic has reported recently that the Clippers have already started to send out feelers to other teams, as they try to estimate what would it take for them to move up in the draft (h/t Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints).
In this Mock Draft piece from a few days ago by @MikeAScotto, he says the LA #Clippers have made several calls to teams in the top 10 of the NBA Draft to gauge the price of the higher picks. Also says Tobias Harris is a name to watch in those trade talks.https://t.co/40yfYdnT3u pic.twitter.com/f5824fm5Jq
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 11, 2018
As pointed out by Scotto, the Clippers hold two lottery picks at No. 12 and No. 13, the former coming via the Detroit Pistons that came during a January trade that also sent Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, and a 2019 second-round pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Blake Griffin, Brice Johnson and Willie Reed.
Speaking of Harris, the seven-year veteran small forward was also mentioned by Scotto as a player that the Clippers may possibly include in a trade for a more desirable position in the draft.
Harris has one more year left in the deal he signed with the Orlando Magic in 2014, so his status as a would-be free agent in 2019 could be used by the Clippers to lure teams like the Memphis Grizzlies into giving up their top-five pick, especially if it meant they would be ridding themselves of Chandler Parson’s punitive contract, in exchange for, say, the expiring contracts of Harris and Patrick Beverley.
The NBA Draft is on June 21, and a lot can still happen between today and that date of the event. We will all just have to wait and see what kind of development the Clippers will have in the coming days.
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