Why This Trade Makes Sense For The Los Angeles Clippers
When looking at the Los Angeles Clippers roster right now, it is easy to call them a championship contender because of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. These two guys are two superstars in the NBA and give any team they are on a chance to contend for a title.
No matter who is around them on this roster, the Clippers will always be one of the better teams in the Western Conference simply because they have two of the better players in the entire league. These two guys alone have enough skill and firepower to be able to contend with some of the best teams in the NBA.
Moving forward though, the Clippers’ championship window is pretty small given how old this roster is. Lou Williams, Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka, Patrick Beverley, Patrick Patterson, Paul George and Reggie Jackson are all 30+ years old and do not have much left in their careers to make a legit championship push, other than Paul George.
By trading away Williams and Patterson, two aging, veteran players for a younger talent and some draft assets could prove to be very useful in keeping the Clippers as one of the top teams in the NBA for future years. As things stand right now, Los Angeles only has one first-round pick over the next seven drafts and it is in 2027.
Their opportunity to build a young core is almost non-existent at this point and because they have virtually no cap space, this team is doomed if they do not win the championship this year. While Lou Williams’ value is still high and while they can get two draft picks for him, including a first-round pick, they need to trade him to try and get some of their lost draft capital back.
This is the only way for the Clippers to be a successful organization moving forward and while it may hurt their chances at winning a title this year, they will still be very much in the thick of things because of Kawhi and George.
Taurean Prince can contribute immediately and he is also only 26-years old, giving the Los Angeles Clippers a younger player to work with over the next few seasons. This move is what is best for the Clippers long-term instead of trying to go for a championship this year and then falling to the bottom of the league due to having no cap space and no future.
