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In this specific post, we'll continue our unhappy NBA stars series with a look at some Clippers trades LA can make to make a run to the Finals. Given the amount of unhappy stars in the league — Ben Simmons, Damian Lillard, De'Aaron Fox, and so many more — it'll be interesting to see what teams make a run at superstars allegedly wanting out of their situations.
The Los Angeles Clippers are now without their premiere guards Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley. While there's still Reggie Jackson in the fold, can he really fill in the void left by the Williams and Beverley? Besides, there are two players that might want out of their current team and join Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Not only will these two players fill the void, but it'll also make the Clippers a whole lot better. Let's look and examine at two unhappy stars that could make for great Clippers trades.
Potential Clippers Trades
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard has been involved in trade rumors for most of the offseason. The six-time All-Star himself hasn't requested a trade. He believes that the front office is doing everything they can to make it work. Props should be given for the coaching change that brought defensive specialist Chauncey Billups to the fray. Yet in terms of roster tweaks, the Trail Blazers didn't do enough to make the team an elite contender in the West.
Lillard joining the Clippers might seem awkward especially with the presence of Paul Geoge. The two have this budding rivalry that has trickled on over to several exchanges through social media. The thing is, NBA players nag each other all the time. They are fierce competitors. At the same time, they are professionals. Once Lillard dons the Clippers jersey, all the things that do not help in winning the title are cast aside.
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There's won't be much of a problem in terms of fit. Lillard is known to be a potent scorer but he's also a very good playmaker as well. He's averaging 6.2 assists per game for his career. Damian Lillard also brings a wealth of experience as well. This will be critical when the Clippers make it deep into the playoffs where experience counts as much as talent.
De'Aaron Fox
Just like Lillard, De'Aaron Fox has been with one team for his entire stay in the NBA. Unlike Lillard however, Fox hasn't experienced the NBA Playoffs. It's an unfortunate reality. Fox is one of the best young guards in this league yet media and basketball fans rarely include them in their debates. That's simply because the Kings have been struggling as an organization for so long. The last time they made the playoffs was in 2006.
The funny thing about the Kings is that they actually have a very decent roster. They have De'Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley III, Harrison Barnes. These are incredible young players the Kings have as their core. Yet for some reason, head coach Luke Walton has been able to concoct the magic formula. It would be understandable to continue placing your hopes on the Kings. But if you're Fox, who's been working his tail off every season, constantly improving his own game — it would also be understandable if you want to leave.
Stats reveal that the Kings are a terrible defensive team with Fox on the floor (118.0 defensive rating). This could be just a matter of coaching as Walton is not really regarded as a defensive genius. Or this could be an offshoot of Fox's penchant for going for the steal — which at the same time, is also his greatest strength. Heading to the Clippers will work wonders not just for the team, but for De'Aaron Fox himself. He'll have the benefit of two elite defenders serving as his mentors.
