The Los Angeles Clippers have looked like the dominant team they were in the NBA regular season last year, but can they carry their success from this season into the postseason? This is where this team ultimately fell last year, but with a reloaded roster and plenty of experience, could this be the year the Clippers finally break through and win the Western Conference Championship?
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have continued to be two of the most dominant players in the league when they are healthy and on the court together and with a great supporting cast, the Clippers have an excellent shot to potentially win the West this season.
They currently sit 5.5 games back from the Utah Jazz for the 1-seed in the Western Conference and they are currently a game up on the Denver Nuggets for the 3-seed. The Clippers are one of the best all-around teams in the league, as they rank 4th in the league in offensive rating and 10th in the league in adjusted defensive rating.
Getting things done on both ends and playing at a high-level for 48 minutes is how the Clippers have found a ton of success to this point in the season and with a solid amount of depth roster wise, this team definitely seems like they are on the verge of something special.
However, if things go really bad in the postseason once again and they come up short of winning a title, then this team could be in store for some major offseason changes. Los Angeles basically has no valuable draft picks over the next several years and no cap room, which is why if things go wrong, they could look to dump some major salaries.
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The Clippers just signed Marcus Morris Sr. to a four-year, $64M contract in the offseason and would like to keep him long-term because of the production he gives them in their starting and second-unit, but he carries the third largest cap hit on this roster and could be the first person the Clippers look to trade if they fail to reach the Western Conference Finals once again.
While they too have some cap problems and have been trying to figure things out roster wise for years, the Minnesota Timberwolves could be a team that shows interest in Marcus Morris Sr. in the offseason should Los Angeles look to trade him. Minnesota needs as much talent as they can get and with a need for a reliable power-forward, Morris could fit right in with the Timberwolves. Both teams will be franchises to watch in NBA trade rumors as the offseason approaches.
Let’s take a look at what this trade could potentially look like for the Clippers to get some immediate salary relief.
