Los Angeles Clippers
I explained the potential for the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers as trade partners the other day. After several days of sleeping on it, I stand by several deals I proposed that would replenish the Clippers’ draft stock.
Of course, it was emptied when the team traded five first-round picks (three of their own, two of Miami’s) and gave the Oklahoma City Thunder the right to swap picks in two other years…effectively giving up seven years of owning their own draft pick to team up Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on a team that showed promise as a plucky underdog #8 seed that took the Golden State Warriors to six games in the 2019 Western Conference quarterfinals.
We know how the 2019-20 season went for a Clippers franchise that honestly seems cursed at this point. It looks like things could be headed for an ugly divorce, and if that is the case, getting back draft picks in a deal for any of their stars should be a priority.
The Cs could go big-game hunting in the form of a Gordon Hayward-Paul George swap, but that would likely cost Boston the #26 and #30 picks as well as the #14. They could also set their sights lower, with Lou Williams’ $8 million dollar salary costing very little besides the #14 pick and contract filler.