Transaction Discussion Part 3 (Trades, Free-Agency, News, Rumors & Ideas)

[Ranma]

Taylor C. Smith making the cases for Noah Vonleh, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bojan Bogdanovic. None of them are better than Robin Lopez, in my opinion.

Read on Twitter

[Ranma]

If the Sixers are interested in a Mike Scott type, why not go after the real thing from the Clippers? They've reportedly also inquired about Jeremy Lin as well. I've previously proposed sending Avery Bradley to Philadelphia for Zhaire Smith and Furkan Korkmaz so I'd definitely be interested in putting together a package of Scott and Bradley for Smith, Korkmaz and a future first-round selection.

While teams may be reluctant to give up a first-rounder, this year's draft may be the time for them to do so given that most executives consider it a weak crop. I've also made mention of drafting a center project like Moses Brown but I'm hoping we can just purchase the necessary selection slot as I'd prefer to acquire a pick for another class.

Furthermore, I've been talking about acquiring Robin Lopez for some time and I hope to do so if and when he is bought out by the Bulls. However, I'm interested in him primarily as a defensive presence and a possibility to re-sign inexpensively next year. Apparently, he's been used too much on the offensive end in Chicago.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Sean Deveney, Sporting News (1/11/19)

The Sixers are another team willing to part with this year’s pick for immediate shooting help, as Philly looks for a big man who can shoot, along the lines of Mike Scott, Frank Kaminsky or Noah Vonleh. The Sixers gave up Dario Saric in the Jimmy Butler deal and miss his ability to stretch the floor.

Philadelphia did acquire Miami’s 2021 pick in the deal with the Suns for Mikal Bridges, but the Sixers have kept that pick out of trade discussions. Should the Heat unravel in the next couple of years, that pick will have increased value.

NBA Trade Rumors: These Teams are Willing to Give Up First-Round Picks, SN Sources Say

[Ranma]

I'd love to see Trade #2 happen but would the Bulls really rather just have Gortat even if they're forced to just buy out Lopez?

Trade #1
Avery Bradley + 2020 2nd-Round Pick for Dewayne Dedmon

Trade #2
Marcin Gortat for Robin Lopez

Trade #3
Marcin Gortat + Milos Teodosic for Zach Randolph + Iman Shumpert

Trade #4
Patrick Beverley for Richaun Holmes + Dragan Bender

Trade #5
Danilo Gallinari, Sindarius Thornwell + 2022 1st-round pick for Nikola Vucevic + Terrence Ross

Read on Twitter

[Ranma]

If R. Lopez is interested in either joining his brother in Milwaukee or signing with Golden State after a buyout, we might be better off trading Gortat for him. I get that he played college ball in Stanford so that the area appeals to him, we could really use his presence at the center position while keeping him from the already stacked Warriors.

Read on Twitter

[esqtvd]

nobody wants Gortat
he's horrible

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[esqtvd]

it would cost us a 2nd-rounder to get RID of Gortat's $13.5M

[hood30]

Lin is on the trading block and I was wondering what do you guys think of a trade sending Bradley or Beverley + a future second round pick to the Hawks for Lin?

I notice the Clippers guard rotation has been bad with only Lou Williams being able to create and generate points.

Lin is having a nice year coming off the bench averaging 11ppg and about 4 assists in only 19 minutes. He's shooting 48% FG but he's been slumping lately from the 3point range, shooting only 35%.

Lin contract is expiring, so you wouldn't be stuck with him for another year since I'm aware the Clippers wants to clear out their book to go after 2 stars this summer.

Is that a fair trade or not?
The Hawks really want a first rounder for Lin but I'm not sure they will get that for a rental player who will be a free agent this summer.

[Ranma]

It's not like I'm not a fan of Jeremy Lin's but I just don't see the point of acquiring him and trading a future second-rounder to boot for his expiring contact. The Clippers already have a glut of guards who need playing time even if Doc is mismanaging the minutes. It's becoming increasingly clear that Doc has steered us toward another wasted season, so I don't see Lin's anticipated contributions being all that valuable to the team this season.

Second-round picks may not be much but they can help facilitate significant deals down the line and I'd hate to throw away a bullet for something/someone that is not really needed right now. I'd rather see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson get meaningful NBA minutes to help with their respective development. Both Shai & Rome are long-term assets for the team while Avery Bradley, Pat Beverley and Lin are considered immediate placeholders.

We could use a legitimate center like Robin Lopez to help contend this season as well as keep him away from the Warriors, but he too is an expiring contract and I've personally been going back and forth about whether to include a second-rounder to acquire him for this season. I'm currently leaning towards doing so in order to not only help this season but maybe get an early start in trying to convince him to sign a reasonable long-term deal by showing how much of a void he could fill and the regular playing time he would get.

In the case of Lopez, the minimal cost would be worth the risk given the circumstances.

[Quake Griffin]

I want to trade for DJ Wilson from the Bucks.

I wanted him in the draft in 2017.
He's ready now and the Bucks aren't using him as much as they could.

[Ranma]

The problem with Marc Gasol is that he could opt in next season for a salary over $25 million and is already up there in age being about 4 years older than Gallinari. Plus, there's a 15% trade-kicker on top of that in order to acquire him and I assume it would activate again should we have to deal him later. Gallo's recent back injury aside, I'm not sure I'd be interested in giving up a season of the younger Rooster for a season of Pau's brother without knowing what options we have available as well as having to deal with the complications of his trade kicker.

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Frank Urbina, HoopsHype.com (1/18/19)

With the Los Angeles Clippers pushing for a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference, they may look to acquire a veteran center like Gasol in order to give their starting lineup a boost.

Their current starter at the position, Marcin Gortat, just doesn’t have much left in the tank, as the Polish big man is averaging a meager 5.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season.

Not only would Gasol be an upgrade over Gortat, thanks to his ability to knock down the long ball, he could even close games next to the energetic Montrezl Harrell, who has been one of the best-kept secrets in the league this year.

Even if he doesn’t close games, in a 25-minute-per-night role, Gasol could be extremely productive. Considering he’s already in his age-34 season, taking a slightly smaller nightly role could even benefit him, and help extend the tail end of his prime just a bit.

In order to get a trade done, L.A. could offer Danilo Gallinari, a high-scoring wing who would fit nicely next to Conley, as well as Boban Marjanovic to fill the void left behind by Gasol. The Clippers want to keep cap space open this summer to make a free-agent splash; losing Gallinari (who has two years left on his deal) while adding Gasol, who may opt out of his contract this offseason, could be one way to accomplish both that, as well their mission to make the playoffs this season.

Four Potential Marc Gasol Trade Destinations

[Magic_Johnny12]

I'd love to see Trade #2 happen but would the Bulls really rather just have Gortat even if they're forced to just buy out Lopez?

Trade #1
Avery Bradley + 2020 2nd-Round Pick for Dewayne Dedmon

Trade #2
Marcin Gortat for Robin Lopez

Trade #3
Marcin Gortat + Milos Teodosic for Zach Randolph + Iman Shumpert

Trade #4
Patrick Beverley for Richaun Holmes + Dragan Bender

Trade #5
Danilo Gallinair, Sindarius Thornwell + 2022 1st-round pick for Nikola Vucevic + Terrence Ross

Read on Twitter

Absolutely no interest in Gallanari unless he’s being rerouted to a thrid team needing of his immediate services.

I do though like the Clippers as trading partners.

Vucevic
Ross

For

Gortat
Bradley
Robinson
‘21 FRP (lottery protected)

[Ranma]

Absolutely no interest in Gallanari unless he’s being rerouted to a thrid team needing of his immediate services.

I do though like the Clippers as trading partners.

Vucevic
Ross

For

Gortat
Bradley
Robinson
‘21 FRP (lottery protected)

There may be some fans of Nikola Vucevic's on this Clippers forum and maybe I might be one of them depending on the circumstances. However, there is no way that I'm giving up recent lottery-pick Jerome Robinson and a future first-round pick even if it is lottery-protected for Vucevic's expiring contract.

I'd rather pursue a trade of Gortat and a second-rounder for Robin Lopez's expiring deal. Lopez may not be as offensively talented as Vucevic but it is more likely that we could retain him on a more affordable deal beyond this season. Vucevic, on the other hand, would require missing out on a premier free agent like Kawhi Leonard.

So basically it would hurt us to lose Vucevic for nothing after this season and it would likely hurt us to retain him since adding him and nothing else of significance to what we have now doesn't really move the needle forward.

Robinson's trade value is arguably low right now, but a lot of that has to do with Doc's continued mis-handling of him. In fact, I'd rather pursue a trade of Doc Rivers for Vucevic.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Absolutely no interest in Gallanari unless he’s being rerouted to a thrid team needing of his immediate services.

I do though like the Clippers as trading partners.

Vucevic
Ross

For

Gortat
Bradley
Robinson
‘21 FRP (lottery protected)

There may be some fans of Nikola Vucevic's on this Clippers forum and maybe I might be one of them depending on the circumstances. However, there is no way that I'm giving up recent lottery-pick Jerome Robinson and a future first-round pick even if it is lottery-protected for Vucevic's expiring contract.

I'd rather pursue a trade of Gortat and a second-rounder for Robin Lopez's expiring deal. Lopez may not be as offensively talented as Vucevic but it is more likely that we could retain him on a more affordable deal beyond this season. Vucevic, on the other hand, would require missing out on a premier free agent like Kawhi Leonard.

So basically it would hurt us to lose Vucevic for nothing after this season and it would likely hurt us to retain him since adding him and nothing else of significance to what we have now doesn't really move the needle forward.

Robinson's trade value is arguably low right now, but a lot of that has to do with Doc's continued mis-handling of him. In fact, I'd rather pursue a trade of Doc Rivers for Vucevic.

Well you’re not, you are doing it for both Vucevic AND Ross’s expiring contracts.

All while shedding Bradley’s negative contract and I’m convinced you’ll need to give something just to solely get rid of Gortat let alone get a better player in return.

Vucevic and Ross are significant upgrades to their counterparts on your team and could easily push your group into contention this year.

Robinson was a reach during the draft and is proving that case this season.

Ross imo is worth a FRP if we took back negative salary, in this case Bradley (NOP offered us a near lottery pick with the inclusion of Solomon Hill) this is a where I peg Robinson’s value (late FRP value).

Vucevic will be an all star this season and is definitely worth a future FRP from a contender. Actually might be underselling him.

I do get the the higher aspirations though in potentially acquiring KL, but I doubt your GM share similar sentiments. Contending this season while you guys are playing great is a real thing and happening now, you don’t know what could happen next season. If you guys can bring two players in that essentially won’t mess up you FA plans (both expirings) and help compete now AND shed negative salary I think that would be best case scenario and a scenario where imo will help attract premier FA’s.

This presents options for you guys. KL knows where he wants to go and if he’s signaling coming to LAC then you do what’s necessary to acquire him (even if it means not resigning Vuc/Ross). If he decides to stay in Toronto (a big possibility) then you’re in the drivers seat of resigning two great players that fit your timeline.

Just my two cents though.

[Ranma]

Well you’re not, you are doing it for both Vucevic AND Ross’s expiring contracts.

All while shedding Bradley’s negative contract and I’m convinced you’ll need to give something just to solely get rid of Gortat let alone get a better player in return.

Vucevic and Ross are significant upgrades to their counterparts on your team and could easily push your group into contention this year.

Robinson was a reach during the draft and is proving that case this season.

Ross imo is worth a FRP if we took back negative salary, in this case Bradley (NOP offered us a near lottery pick with the inclusion of Solomon Hill) this is a where I peg Robinson’s value (late FRP value).

Vucevic will be an all star this season and is definitely worth a future FRP from a contender. Actually might be underselling him.

I do get the the higher aspirations though in potentially acquiring KL, but I doubt your GM share similar sentiments. Contending this season while you guys are playing great is a real thing and happening now, you don’t know what could happen next season. If you guys can bring two players in that essentially won’t mess up you FA plans (both expirings) and help compete now AND shed negative salary I think that would be best case scenario and a scenario where imo will help attract premier FA’s.

This presents options for you guys. KL knows where he wants to go and if he’s signaling coming to LAC then you do what’s necessary to acquire him (even if it means not resigning Vuc/Ross). If he decides to stay in Toronto (a big possibility) then you’re in the drivers seat of resigning two great players that fit your timeline.

Just my two cents though.

The whole point is that the original idea only helps us in the short-term and puts the Clippers as a middling franchise poised to be in the worst place possible: not good enough to contend and not bad enough to get a high lottery pick. Adding Ross only adds to that and thusly is negligible.

You're arguing as if the priority is for the Clippers to compete this season when that is not at all the case. It is the years beyond hopefully starting with next season. Jerry West & Co. have lined things up so that the Clippers are targeting primarily Kawhi Leonard with the possibility of adding a second premier star with him this summer.

You can argue the likelihood of signing 2 star free agents as being unlikely, which I agree with, but it is also feasible. That in itself makes it worth pursuing since we're about the only team in the league that can offer that possibility and the coveted Los Angeles market.

With regards to Robinson, yes, he was a reach as a late-lottery pick and I said as much at the time of his selection, but our front office likes him and multiple teams right behind the Clips had him as a target to be taken with their respective picks, which prevented the Clippers from trading down to still select him. The fact that the organization chose to keep him instead of trading down in a deep draft indicates to me that it values him.

This is not to say Rome is untouchable but he's certainly worth more than expiring contracts that aren't going to get us anywhere of significance. He's quite a polished shooter with playmaking ability. Defense might determine whether he can be a star offensive contributor or a player off the bench. At the same time, I've also noted that as impressive as West's draft record as been over the years with different organizations, he's also made some out-of-left-field picks that have amounted to nothing.

Still, odds are that I would bank on trusting on West and Rome is already showing some promise albeit with a limited ceiling.

As I mentioned before, the full intent of the Clippers is to sign at least one premier free agent. Failing that hurts us and having Vucevic and Ross isn't going to be much of a consolation as we should be able to do better than that in the not too distant future. Plus, what's the point of trading for them when we can outright sign them in a few months should we actually want them?

Also, Gortat is an expiring contract and his so-called negative value is temporary. He's still a decent contributor best served playing limited minutes but definitely not a long-term asset. Likewise, Bradley is a negative value only because Doc is misusing him by overplaying him like he did with Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers during their respective times as Clippers. Both are contributing to new clubs this season. Furthermore, only $2 million is guaranteed for next season on Bradley's contract. Even if that relatively paltry amount presents a problem in signing free agents, the Clips have the option of lowering the cap hit by stretching it out over 3 seasons, I believe.

As I've illustrated above and elsewhere, the Clippers are most likely better off not making any deals unless there is a no-brainer on the table, which your Vucevic-Ross proposal isn't. You might argue a bird in a hand is worth more than 2 in a bush but the Clippers are in a position most teams in the league would love to be in.

[raferfenix]

Hey Clippers fans, curious what you think about the Bucks as a potential trade partner?

Milwaukee has a ton of ending contracts and a few young pieces we could afford to lose if it helps us enough in the short run.

We could use a deadeye 3-point shooter in particular. That and a more clear cut #2 level player.

That is supposed to be Middleton and maybe he steps up come playoff time. But in recent months it appears he is bristling against Budenholzer’s 3-point centric offense, whereas Middleton might be most effective being able to iso and take more 2’s.

Bucks also have the daunting prospect of 4/5 of our starting lineup being free agents and wanting raises this offseason.

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

[Ranma]

Hey Clippers fans, curious what you think about the Bucks as a potential trade partner?

Milwaukee has a ton of ending contracts and a few young pieces we could afford to lose if it helps us enough in the short run.

We could use a deadeye 3-point shooter in particular. That and a more clear cut #2 level player.

That is supposed to be Middleton and maybe he steps up come playoff time. But in recent months it appears he is bristling against Budenholzer’s 3-point centric offense, whereas Middleton might be most effective being able to iso and take more 2’s.

Bucks also have the daunting prospect of 4/5 of our starting lineup being free agents and wanting raises this offseason.

I want to trade for DJ Wilson from the Bucks.

I wanted him in the draft in 2017.
He's ready now and the Bucks aren't using him as much as they could.

I don't see a fit unless there was a Middleton-Gallinari deal being discussed or the Bucks just acquiring Gallinari in order for the Clippers to clear up cap space to secure 2 max-level free agents. As such, both proposals would make more sense during the off-season when the Clips should have a better understanding or handle on who we will sign this summer.

Quake is interested in D.J. Wilson, so I guess he could be packaged in a deal for Gallo should we pursue trading him.

[Ranma]

Read on Twitter

[GeetIt]

So how do bird rights work? Can the clippers go over the salary resigning the likes of Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic after they sign a max free agent? Is there a deadline to resign bird rights eligible players? Because if clippers can go over the cap next off season by not signing Tobias until they get their max players inked this kind of seems like a loophole. Hold as many bird rights players as possible with an expiring contract. Use the salary cap space for other free agents. Then go over the cap by resigning the current players. I would definitely trade for Vucevic if this was the case. This is all assuming that Ballmer is willing to pay.