On January 19th, Beijing time, two remarkable pieces of news about the Los Angeles Clippers have emerged.
The entire Clippers team is campaigning for Harden and Powell.
Despite Leonard's long-term absence, the Clippers have managed to maintain a high ranking in the Western Conference, with James Harden and Norman Powell playing significant roles. Currently, Harden ranks sixth among Western Conference guards in voting, while Powell has not made it into the top ten. However, the entire Clippers organization, including head coach Tyronn Lue and Leonard, believe that both players deserve an All-Star spot this year. This season, Harden averages 22 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game, while Powell averages 24.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. They have been instrumental in maintaining the team's performance. Especially Harden, who has been the backbone of the Clippers, leading the team forward.
The Clippers are seeking to trade Zhao Si from the Nets.
According to American media reports, as the team continues to perform well, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer's desire to win a championship has been reignited, and previous plans have been completely scrapped. Ballmer firmly believes that as long as Leonard remains healthy and Harden stabilizes the situation during the regular season, the team will be able to make a significant impact in the playoffs. To this end, the Clippers are discussing a trade with the Brooklyn Nets regarding Nicholas Claxton (Zhao Si). Claxton is an old friend of Harden's, and if the Clippers can successfully acquire him, it would strengthen their weakest link. Currently, apart from Zubac, Bamba is hardly effective, and PJ Tucker is aging, so the Clippers urgently need to reinforce their frontcourt.
The Clippers' performance this season and their subsequent moves are closely watched by fans. These two pieces of news undoubtedly fill the Clippers' future with more possibilities and expectations. Whether they can achieve their goal of winning the championship this season remains to be seen.