The LA Clippers, although dealing with injuries, are in the play-in zone for the NBA playoffs. This is respectable, of course, but if Kawhi Leonard and Paul George don’t return this season, then the Clippers are nowhere near the contending zone. Due to this, they should look into deals that will allow them to get younger but also open up cap space this coming summer. Having Leonard and George automatically makes them a contender when healthy, so they should look to make the strongest roster possible this offseason.
LA Clippers: Three Trade Ideas
Getting Rid of a Bad Contract
The trade: the Clippers send Eric Bledsoe and Keon Johnson to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Cedi Osman and the Ricky Rubio exception.
Cleveland was just granted a big exemption after Rubio went down with an injury. They can use this to upgrade their squad as they continue to surprise the entire league. Due to Rubio’s injury, Cleveland is looking for backcourt depth. In comes Bledsoe.
The Bledsoe trade hasn’t worked out for the Clippers. He’s not the player he once was, so LA should look to get rid of his contract. There’s no better way to do this than unloading him to a team that needs his skillset. Unloading him comes at a price of a young prospect in Johnson for the Clippers, but it’s worth doing for a win-now team.
LA gets a very solid player in Osman here. He’s averaging about 11 points per game this season. Osman will have two years left on his deal, on a respectable contract too, after this season, so he’ll be a major help once the Clippers are healthy.
Building the Frontcourt
The trade: the Clippers send Ivica Zubac, Serge Ibaka, Johnson, and a first-round pick to the Indiana Pacers for Myles Turner and Oshae Brissett.
Turner is on the trade block and a great target for the Clippers for the future and the present. He’s an elite defending center who can also contribute offensively. Come next season, George, Leonard, Turner, and others form a scary defensive force. This acquisition upgrades the Clippers in a major way once they’re healthy. Brissett is also a solid frontcourt player who can fight his way into the rotation.
Indiana gets to replace Turner with Zubac. Perhaps this isn’t a long-term fill, but Zubac is definitely a respectable big man. Ibaka comes in with his expiring contract, giving Indiana more cap space this offseason. As the Pacers likely head to a rebuild, Johnson and the first-round pick will be useful.
The LA Clippers can Shed Salary
The trade: the Clippers send Marcus Morris to the Utah Jazz for Joe Ingles and two second-round picks.
Morris has been solid for the Clippers throughout his tenure. With that being said, he hasn’t quite made the difference in guiding them deep into the playoffs as a third or fourth option. The Clippers have an opportunity here to shed his salary. Ingles comes in, who remains a solid player, although his $13 million contract is off the books this offseason. Should he impress, the Clippers can also look to bring him back on a more affordable contract. The second-round picks are two assets to add as well.
Utah is typically a defensive powerhouse. This season their offense has been firing on all cylinders, yet they’re lacking elite defense outside of Rudy Gobert. Morris brings this, as well as his ability to average around 15 points per game. This is the kind of trade the Jazz need as they always seem to fall short come playoff time.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
