The LA Clippers knew that their chances of being contenders this season were slim after Kawhi Leonard injured his knee in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Without Leonard, the Clippers competed, defeating the Utah Jazz but falling to the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals in six games.
The one positive was that the Clippers still had one All-Star in Paul George to rely on. Unfortunately for the Clippers, George has missed a majority of the season as well. He has appeared in only 26 games and none since December 22nd because of an elbow injury.
The Clippers are still competing, as they are 36-36 on the season. A spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament is likely, but even if they qualify for the field of eight, they are unlikely to do much damage.
The Clippers are aware of their slim chances and the move they made ahead of the trade deadline signaled they have an eye toward next season already when they brought in Norman Powell.
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One area that the team could look to upgrade over the course of the offseason is the center spot. Could Brook Lopez be a potential trade target?
What would it take to get Lopez from the Milwaukee Bucks? Let’s take a look at this hypothetical deal that brings Lopez to the west coast.