3 Trades That Would Make the Clippers Favorites in the Western Conference
The Los Angeles Clippers may have the same record (21-11) as they had heading into January last season, but the product on the court looks a bit different. While the offense has been great all season long, ranking third in offensive efficiency, via Basketball-Reference.com, the defense has lagged behind, currently 18th.
Reminiscent of last season, the team has had problems limiting penetration, defending on the wings and securing the defensive glass. These are the areas that must be addressed, in some form, if the Clippers are to become conference favorites.
Outside of player development and growth within the team defense, the Clippers will be looking into trades to solve some of their problems. There are three potential trades that stand out and might help put the Clippers over the top.
Trade No. 1
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Lance Stephenson and Ed Davis
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Reggie Bullock and Cash
The Lance Stephenson trade rumors have been circulating since the middle of December, according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:
"One factor that could ultimately lead to a deal, despite Stephenson's ragged and discouraging start, is the fact that the three-year, $27 million deal he received over the summer from Charlotte owner Michael Jordan is only guaranteed through next season. The third year of the deal is not guaranteed, which theoretically enhances Charlotte's chances of finding another team willing to gamble on the mercurial swingman.
"
Sources say that the Hornets are not in a move-him-at-all-costs mode with Stephenson but made it clear that Charlotte is ready now to abandon the experiment if a palatable deal presents itself.
One logical fit for Stephenson would be with the Clippers, who have a pressing need for a defensive wing, especially one who can create off the dribble and help run the team's lackluster bench. Stephenson is obviously a risk, but he would provide the team an option to defend players they have struggled against, such as Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Klay Thompson.
Stephenson has looked like a poor fit so far with the Charlotte Hornets. He has had a down year offensively, as evidenced by his miserable 38.6 percent shooting from the field and 15.1 percent from three. Part of his decline is due to Kemba Walker running the offense, the team lacking a quality stretch big to run pick-and-roll sets and not having shooters to keep the floor spaced.
The Clippers offer an upgraded version of the Hornets offense, which would accentuate Stephenson's strengths. For example, the Clippers are second in the league in three-point percentage, third in offensive rating and fourth in field-goal percentage, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
Stephenson would have a plethora of weapons at his disposal, could run the offense for the reserves and not be relied upon to create late in games. The difference in his role with the Clippers revolves around him attacking off-ball reversals and kick-outs, instead of attacking straight into a set defense.
Although his temperament is not ideal, and he may pose some chemistry issues, the Clippers do have strong leaders in Chris Paul and Doc Rivers. If Stephenson can fall in line and the team's leaders can keep him under control, his overall play could trump Crawford's offensive production.
Dealing Crawford would not be easy, because he is such a large part of the Clippers' successful offensive arsenal, but the focus of the return package would be to strengthen the team's weaknesses.
Defense, Crawford's primary deficiency, has been the team's main problem all season long, especially when he is forced into playing small forward. Stephenson strengthens a defense that ranks 17th in defensive rating, per Basketball-Reference.com but would replace Matt Barnes' in the rotation.
Losing Barnes certainly does not help the rotation, but Stephenson is the better option overall. Additionally, there would be another roster spot available for the Clippers to search for a free agent or someone bought out later in the season.
The final piece of this deal requires the Los Angeles Lakers to trade Ed Davis for a young asset, as he can opt out of his contract after the season. The Clippers give up Reggie Bullock and cash compensation to make it worthwhile for the Lakers.
Davis, who is pulling down 7.2 rebounds per game, immediately helps the team's rebounding struggle and provides more depth behind DeAndre Jordan and Griffin. Doc Rivers has a thin bench, outside of Spencer Hawes, and Davis is an upgrade who can also help protect the rim and solidify the bench defense.
Trade No. 2
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Jeff Green and Jae Crowder
Boston Celtics Receive: Spencer Hawes, Matt Barnes and C.J. Wilcox
This is another deal that nets the Clippers an athletic swingman who can defend the perimeter, this time someone Rivers is familiar with. Jeff Green has the size, length and athleticism that the team needs from the small forward positions. It also does not hurt that Rivers coached him with the Boston Celtics and knows exactly how to utilize his strengths.
Green would benefit from playing with the talented Clippers offense, as he has struggled to shoot the ball from three (32.1 percent) this season. He also can play power forward, and according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, Rivers has been impressed with his progression and versatility:
"What he has become is a dual player. I remember the first year, I thought we messed him up. I kept saying that, trying to put him back and forth at [power forward], at [small forward]. In retrospect, we should have started him either at [power forward] or [small forward] and let him grow into being able to do both. Now, he can do either. We were talking as a staff, now preparing for him, and we were trying to decide what was he better at. It’s really good to see him progress, starting to rebound finally. He’s just being consistent, and that’s important.
"
The key component here would be dealing Hawes, the team's only serviceable reserve big. Although he has struggled to fit in with the Clippers, mainly due to injuries so far, he is on a reasonable contract and is a career 35.8 percent shooter from three.
Luckily, Green can play reserve minutes at power forward and would open another roster spot for the Clippers to approach someone like Kenyon Martin, after he is released from his contract in China.
Green's length would be appealing defensively on the wing, but he also is a career 34.2 percent shooter from three. So with more open looks in the team's offense, he might be able to increase that percentage and space the floor more than Barnes.
To complete this deal, two separate trades would be needed, as Jae Crowder is unable to be packaged with another player until two days before the trade deadline. Crowder would provide depth at the small forward position, even with Barnes being dealt. He is a high-energy, athletic win defender; something the team needs more of.
The final piece, C.J. Wilcox, allows the Celtics to add another young piece to their rebuilding puzzle, and a young guard who has a great stroke. Hawes might not be an idea fit, considering the team has plenty of stretch big men, but none can shoot from three as well as he can and open the door for Danny Ainge to construct more deals this summer.
Trade No. 3
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Darren Collison, Mirza Teletovic and Reggie Evans
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Spencer Hawes, Ben McLemore, Derrick Williams, Jordan Farmar, Reggie Bullock, Eric Moreland and Jared Cunningham
Sacramento Kings Receive: Deron Williams, Mason Plumlee
You may notice a few familiar faces in this trade. While dealing for Darren Collison might not sound like an impact move, Jordan Farmar has not played well all season.
| Jordan Farmar | 14.4 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 95 | 109 |
| Darren Collison | 25.9 | 11.4 | 3.7 | 113 | 107 |
As the table above shows, Farmar's poor play has forced Rivers to distribute the minutes he gave Collison to other players, instead of all to Farmar. Additionally, the bench needs another aggressive guard, as the team's offensive rating drops from 117.7 to 100.8 when Farmar is on the floor, via Basketball-Reference.com. He simply does not impact the game like many expected when he was signed.
Collison has played quite well this season and would take the ball out of Crawford's hands more, which should result in a more open style of offense for the reserves. The product on the floor should look and flow more like the starters with Collison at point guard, something that is absolutely not the case presently. Crawford is forced to attack one-on-one, especially when Hawes was hurt, as nobody else is a threat to create.
Next, Teletovic and Evans are complimentary players who could make an impact on both ends of the floor. Teletovic—a career 36.6 percent shooter from three—would essentially take Hawes' spot as the team's stretch big off the bench. Evans—7.2 rebounds per game—brings a toughness and constant effort on the glass which addresses a team weakness.
Finally, the Nets would speed along their rebuilding efforts with young talents in McLemore and Bullock, plus a complimentary rotation player in Hawes. This move could allow the Nets to rebuild on the fly or usher in a youth movement, capped off by a Brook Lopez trade.
The trade is completed due to the Kings interest in Williams, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
"Sacramento point guard Darren Collison and forwards Derrick Williams and Jason Thompson were possibilities as part of a multi-player package for Deron Williams, league sources said.
The combination of Williams' massive salary and declining health and production leave the Nets with little leverage to take back much more than spare parts for the one-time All-Star guard.
"
Any of these three trades would increase the Clippers' chances of winning the conference. The main problems have resolved around the bench and the team defense. All three of these trades address one, if not both.
Regardless, unless there are some major internal improvements—mainly defensively—the Clippers will need to complete a trade to fix the lingering issues that have plagued them all season. Without either, it seems unlikely the team can win the conference this season.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
