In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com. Here are this week’s inquiries:
With Blake Griffin out, will the Clippers make some bold moves? — Richard
HR: There is no debating Griffin’s talent, but losing Chris Paul would be a bigger blow to the Clippers. Heck, considering the way Griffin tends to dominate the ball, losing DeAndre Jordan would probably be worse than not having Griffin, too. As far as “bold moves,” I don’t see any on the horizon for the Clippers. They’ve won four straight and their bench has looked vastly improved lately. It’s easy to point to Lance Stephenson and say he should be traded, but who would take him? What would the Clippers get in return? Coach/executive Doc Rivers seems to imply that Stephenson will remain on the team through the deadline. If the Clippers don’t make it to the finals this season, I would expect significant moves, perhaps one involving Griffin, especially if the Clippers continue to show they can consistently win without him.
Do you think the Hornets will try to trade for Marco Belinelli? — Nick
HR: Teams have reportedly shown interest recently in acquiring Belinelli from the Kings, but it is unclear if the Hornets are one of those teams. I doubt it. In previous seasons, the Hornets were known for making a deal, but they find themselves in a unique situation this time around. Unlike previous seasons, the Hornets don’t have a major flaw and they are a pretty decent team. Granted, not many expected the Hornets to be as competitive, but since they are, why acquire a guy like Belinelli, who is signed for two more years after this one and is experiencing a down season? I expect the Hornets to let the deadline pass without making a move.