The Clippers are shopping for a play-making point guard and are willing to move several veterans in order to achieve that goal, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reports.
The Clippers believe a starting point guard is the missing piece to become a championship contender when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George return to action, even though it’s uncertain whether they’ll be back this season or next year.
The front office has made Eric Bledsoe, Serge Ibaka, and Marcus Morris available to acquire another floor leader, O’Connor says. The team views current starter Reggie Jackson as more of a scorer than a pure point guard.
Bledsoe is signed through next season but his $19.38MM salary next season is only guaranteed for $3.9MM. Ibaka is making $9.7MM this season and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Clippers would prefer to hold onto Morris, who is in the second year of a four-year, $64MM contract, but the forward may be their most attractive trade piece.
O’Connor suggests the Clippers would also be willing to part with Luke Kennard, Terance Mann, Ivica Zubac, Jason Preston, Brandon Boston Jr., or Keon Johnson if the right deal came along.
As O’Connor notes, the Clippers have been linked in some fashion to Jalen Brunson, Dennis Schröder, Kemba Walker, Goran Dragic, Spencer Dinwiddie and John Wall in recent weeks. Brunson would seemingly be the best fit, though the Mavericks aren’t inclined to deal him, despite the fact that he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Dragic, currently in limbo, might be a good short-term fit. Wall, who hasn’t played this season while the Rockets seek a new home for him, could also be an intriguing possibility. The salaries of Bledsoe, Ibaka and Morris could be matched up to obtain Wall. The Clippers could also simply wait to see if Wall winds up on the buyout market and make a play for him at that point.
I feel like the names of on the roster are not goin to get them any sort of difference maker, need draft picks, they would be smarter to completely sell everyone expiring and looking into free agency after the season
Incredible that they think they can get a decent player, let alone a PG for any of those players. They don’t even have any first round draft picks. I agree that free agency may be their only hope, except that this year’s free agent class in not very good. The only PG on the free agent list that they should make a run at is Tyus Jones. He would be perfect for the Clips and should be looking for a starting job.
They have no money next year as well Fid for free agents
True true Cap lol. I forgot how many guys they have to pay next year.
Are the signaling Brodie here?
It really only takes Balmer reaching into his pockets and some Pepto Bismol
Even if Balmer doesn’t care about money, as a wealthy competitive franchise Clipps FO have to cut their luxury tax to thé minimum
It’s only for 1 yr tho
24′ would actually get better on the ledger with/out 1 of Morris or Kennard
Clips can’t get better the next 1.5 yrs via trade or free agency (they have no positive assets or money). This leak to me is signaling Wall or Westbrook is MAJORLY in the cards in the next 10 days, Wall especially as the hoops would be less to jump thru. The Clippers greatest asset today is Ballmers ability to stomach a deep tax next year and go all YOLO on one of these 2 PG’s. Id prefer Westbrook over Wall but Wall might be easier to net effectively for the Clips
Going apron for Wall (inactive injury prone) who is a possible buy out when you have no PJ nor KL is a hard move.
Clipps are almost sure to be in the play-in so cut some tax money and wait FA to make a big move
They wont be able to participate in free agency next year tho
But yea they could def make some cost cutting moves and just sit idle to relive some tax in the NexT 10 days. I wouldn’t fault them for that considering the PG and KL injs. Just moving Morris and Bledsoe for {basically} nothing would be a good next 10 days if your a Clips fan Imo
KL will tell the FO will tell what to do …
Clippers future
Keon Johnson age 19, Team USA?
Lakers future
Horton Tucker age 21
Reaves age 23
Warriors future
Top 7 youngest in the nba, Kuminga, Moody
and Wiseman
Bledsoe, BJ Boston & a future 2nd for Dinwiddie seems like a good move for both teams
Bledsoe and Keon Johnson and picks for LaVert
Bledsoe, Ibaka, and Kennard for Wall. Get it done
Yup, this could be done tomorrow
Appears Clips would move Morris instead of Luke but same deal in the end
They should trade for Dragic or Brunson or even Brogdon
Clipps have no picks to attach to all those contracts so maybe a 3 team deal Dragic for Bledsoe then Raps have to flip Bledsoe again for an other bad 20M$ dead money contract like Rubio and save $$$ ???
Ibaka is a good fit for BK (jj/BB/Milsap) Bulls (for DJJr) or Raptors again (for Boucher).
Dragic – Bledsoe straight-up trade.
Though Dragic, is also a scoring PG, he can distribute as well …… a rental who can give them a bump to salvage this season – who knows PG (maybe Kawhi) somehow return for the playoffs, the CLIPPERS might make another surprise deep run.
The RAPTORS get something out of nothing, moreso they get someone from a position-of-need. They badly need a back-up for FVV and Bledsoe can give those relief minutes, which he’s more suited to. If he doesn’t work out, they can waive or buy him out next offseason.
Not a bad idea but it comes with the Covet of 4 mill dead for Tor next year w EB.
I don’t think 25 games of Bledsoe is enough compensation for that-
Think they find a more creative use of Dragic in the end that doesn’t affect the 23 cap
Yes, a Bledsoe rental might not be worth it ……. but seeing the minutes and load that FVV carries this season, they need some PG relief really bad.
Dragic for Bledsoe straight up. You obviously don’t know much about basketball. Even before his trade out of Milwaukee, Bledsoe checked out as in only good for cashing his check twice a month. Raptors will wait till trading deadline and peddle him to CLEV, Utah or Dallas. Like I said, you obviously don’t know much about basketball and the NBA.
Exactly. Bledsoe was playing starter minutes for the BUCKS, which obviously didn’t work-out …….. hence I said, with the RAPTORS, he’ll just be good for relief/spot minutes – a back-up PG in laymans terms, for a simpleton like you.
Stick to golf, old man.
Bledsoe was benched before his trade out of Milwaukee. For a simpleton like you, checking out means .. finished, turned in, done like in dinner. Stick to your day job (?), old man.
Dennis Schroder for Serge Ibaka?
It’s obvious that the CELTS need to get something out of Schroder, but they can do much, much better than Ibaka’s carcass.
Westbrook is available
Forget Wall, Walker, Dragic, et. al. This season is already over. LAC should think about making a TD move this year to set up next 1-3 years (the balance of the KL/PG contracts, during which they’ll be asset depleted). They have a lot of players that can move into a playoff team’s short rotation, but that likely won’t have a lot of independent trade value in a liquid market like that of the offseason. If CLE is offering Rubio and their 1st for a wing, kick the tires on it. They have players that can help CLE, now and going forward. Rubio’s Bird Rights might have some value to the LAC this offseason, but the 1st is the prize, since they don’t control any of their own picks for 5 years, and if nothing else, they need to build some trade assets in advance of the offseason. Utah and other teams as well. Probably pointless as long as Lue is performing, but maybe that all works itself out by next season as well.
They won’t and aren’t meant to ever win a title , but compared to the fakers from Minneapolis they got it good
Lakers NEED to get involved in this trade. Clips get Gordon and Wall. Rockets get Russ, Bledsoe and a Pick. Lakers get Morris, Ibaka, and Kennard.
Good idea
Rockets gm need a pick 2023 not 2027
The best idea is Wall to Clippers
You use brain to kill Clippers not Knife
The Rockets should be active and Wall for Bledsoe, Ibaka and Kennard sounds possible, and then EG and Theis for Al Horford. I don’t even think they’d be done there.
Lakers should be dialling them up and offering Russ.
3 team deal
Lakers: Bledsloe, Heild and Tristan Thompson
Clippers: Russ and 2 second rounders
Kings: Marcus Morris, Justice Winslow and THT
Lakers then line up
Monk Heild LBJ AD Thompson
With a bench of Bledsoe Ellington Ariza Melo Howard.
LBJ goes back into playing ‘point guard’. Buddy Heild helps really open the floor. Tristan comes to team up LeBron again. Bledsoe can lead the second unit with Melo a go to scorer.
Also helps that they have more trade pieces and didn’t have to give up their 1 first round pick
Clippers get a point guard, a former mvp who can do it all (besides shoot efficiently from three). With Kawhi and PG out they could do with a do it all type player out there. All they lose is Bledsoe, Morris and Winslow. 2 unfavourable contracts and a player they aren’t even using plus they get back picks.
Kings get involved cause they want Heild and Thompson gone. They get back Morris, THT and Winslow. Winslow could then get waived. THT is a solid return and could fit nicely with what they have. They could also then make a Sabonis trade.
Fox Bagley and a first for Sabonis and Lamb.
Then line up
Haliburton THT Barnes Morris Sabonis
With a bench of Mitchell Lamb Davis Metu and Holmes
That’s a really solid starting 5 and bench with Hali and Sabo your two stars you build around.
Oconnor:
“The Wizards want to move Dinwiddie because he looks like a shell of his former self and his teammates don’t want him there.”
True?— yikes. I will have to catch a game… this was not my interpretation last seen.
Dragic?: ” The ball doesn’t stick when he’s on the floor. There’s flow because he’s both a quirky passer and a clutch scorer who can play with or without the ball. Dragic will turn 36 in May, but Doug Smith from The Toronto Star said the Raptors are “finding great interest in a myriad of differently structured deals” and it’s “almost certain” they will find one for Dragic before the deadline.”
I suspect Dragic asked for his low minutes, Ujiri gave it, and now Dragic will feel obligated to re-up with them. Oconnor for one is still thinking of him in his prime, so I think he will be costly to acquire.
But “quirky” is right… Next year I would be happy with Rubio.
Surprised T.Mann is available. He has regressed a bit this year and I doubt he is that smart, but he can do so much and physically enjoys being in the mix.
Mann isn’t available. At least not for a trade during the season. O’Connor can’t be bothered with the CBA, he’s trying to write an article.
Hey the way Rockets draft guards, KPJ or Green might be available
Ibaka and a first for Kemba? I like it for both teams (but way better for NY)