This season, there are some surprising teams in addition to the Rockets and Grizzlies, including the Clippers! As a fragmented small ship, it is unexpected that they have managed to reach their current ranking. The Los Angeles Clippers started the new NBA season without star forward Kawhi Leonard. Despite Leonard's absence, the team has found ways to win games and maintain their ranking in the Western Conference.
This proves the overall foundation of the Clippers, and everyone on the team deserves praise. Star guard James Harden has played a leading role on the court, and so far, he has excelled in leading this team.
With Leonard returning to the court, the Clippers have won two consecutive games by a combined margin of an astonishing 88 points, setting an NBA record. The Clippers have re-entered the championship race!
Currently, one of the biggest weaknesses of the Clippers is their size, and adding another big man could make a difference. According to insider reports, the Clippers are currently negotiating to add a multiple-time All-Star big man to address their lack of interior support.
The trade will take place between Los Angeles and the Chicago Bulls, with Nikola Vucevic joining the Clippers. The details of the trade are as follows:
Clippers receive:
Center Nikola Vucevic
Bulls receive:
Guard Terance Mann, Forward PJ Tucker, a 2030 first-round draft pick, and a 2031 second-round draft pick
Chicago has been trying to trade Vucevic for years as they enter a full rebuild phase. Now, the team has acquired scoring guard Mann, an expiring contract for Tucker, and some additional draft picks.
The Bulls have almost always been working on rebuilding and traded several players during the offseason. There are speculations that the team will trade Vucevic and guard Zach LaVine before the trade deadline. The Clippers stepped in at this time, acquiring a piece they might have been missing. Bringing in a stretch center like Vucevic will provide significant assistance to the Lakers' offense.
This year, Vucevic averages 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. However, his three-point shooting percentage has also reached 47.4%, which is currently the highest level of his career.
Bringing Vucevic to Los Angeles won't bankrupt the Clippers, as he only has two years left on his contract. Vucevic's salary for this season is expected to be 20million,andnextseason′ssalaryisexpectedtobe21.1 million.
Pairing him with Harden and Leonard, the Clippers will have a Big Three to compete in the strong Western Conference. Like other teams, health is also a crucial factor for the Clippers, but this is a move the Clippers may want to consider before the trade deadline.