Clippers buyers? sellers?

[Astaluego]

The Clippers are having a good year, I think, relative to their expectations...but they have a ceiling, a first round exit at best...their top stars are in decline and worn out, due to age, the normal trend is downward... They have the richest owner in the NBA who also seems to be committed to the team...I guess their next window of contention will come, through free agency (when Leonard expires/retires) since due to their location, they are an attractive destination for stars.... They have some very good role players (Zubac/Powell/DJJ/Bogdan) or Harden himself who could surely return them a solid value, if they were to move them.... On the other side of the scale this summer they would have a couple of FRPs and mobile contracts, if they wanted to be buyers..... So what do you think they will do (or would you do) in the off-season?? Are they open to listening to offers and acquiring assets or prospects or are they holding on to their players to win now?

[Stanq]

As of now, free agency isn't a thing. Teams above the apron can't really access stuff like S&T, it is hard to dump contracts. Agents see this and are working towards extending their clients more than letting than hit free agency. Build through free agency without a cornerstone is gonna be really hard. Harden, Kahwi are already 85M for next year, and I think adding Bogdan and all the other 10M~ contracts and they are already at 150M, cap should be 155M, so no space, max a MLE and BAE to use. So next season Clippers is this team a year older and maybe one MLE addition.

26-27 Kahwi is still there, they probably pay Harden for one more year and it is the same team 2 years older, unless someone else wants to play there again. I think this is the year they just reset - no contract going over 2027 that can't be easily dumped.

Since they barely have assets for any meaningful trade, don't see how they are buyers. Nobody is buying their players, so not sellers. They are just in the end of an unsuccessful all-in phase. They will start rebuilding in two seasons.

[gswhoops]

Honestly, I think they stay the course as a fun playoff team with an outside shot at making a run if Kawhi gets & stays healthy at the right time until the Harden/Kawhi deals expire and then begin a proper rebuild. By that point they'll have paid off all their pick debt to OKC.

They shouldn't spend more future picks chasing a pipedream of winning a title with this team, and they can't really afford to alienate fans by selling off their stars right after opening a new arena. So status quo it is.

[Godaddycurse]

Honestly, I think they stay the course as a fun playoff team with an outside shot at making a run if Kawhi gets & stays healthy at the right time until the Harden/Kawhi deals expire and then begin a proper rebuild. By that point they'll have paid off all their pick debt to OKC.

They shouldn't spend more future picks chasing a pipedream of winning a title with this team, and they can't really afford to alienate fans by selling off their stars right after opening a new arena. So status quo it is.

they still owe pick debt to philly though

[TheNewEra]

See the clippers being sellers in the offseason maybe making some moves to get picks back and add to their own. Best case scenario Kawhi can finish the season and show he can still play to be traded

[ChettheJet]

To me they only have Leonard and Hardin to sell and they have to get 2-4 salaries back for each. We've seen that those huge contracts aren't all that attractive. Then they're left with what was a good supporting group in Powell, Bogdan, Zubac and DJJ who would have to step up to be the guys carrying the team. They'd have to strip it down and get some picks to fill in the ones they traded but it's not going to be a quick rebuild.

[giberish]

Honestly, I think they stay the course as a fun playoff team with an outside shot at making a run if Kawhi gets & stays healthy at the right time until the Harden/Kawhi deals expire and then begin a proper rebuild. By that point they'll have paid off all their pick debt to OKC.

They shouldn't spend more future picks chasing a pipedream of winning a title with this team, and they can't really afford to alienate fans by selling off their stars right after opening a new arena. So status quo it is.

they still owe pick debt to philly though

Yeah they don't control their own 1sts until 2030. So they can't do a rebuild for a while. They also aren't close enough to a title to justify pushing further 1st rounders into the fray for a win-now push. So by default they'll have to muddle through for a few years kind of mediocre (baring some miracle trade or great later pick).

[ejftw]

Listen to what Jake The Moron Fischer says, and it'll be the opposite.

But really, what would be the point of selling? No pick control, no real avenue to get their own picks back. They'll leverage the amount of playable expiring to try to get another mid seed team.

Then, also considering that they host All Star Weekend. Can't go into that season being sellers.

[Astaluego]

To me they only have Leonard and Hardin to sell and they have to get 2-4 salaries back for each. We've seen that those huge contracts aren't all that attractive. Then they're left with what was a good supporting group in Powell, Bogdan, Zubac and DJJ who would have to step up to be the guys carrying the team. They'd have to strip it down and get some picks to fill in the ones they traded but it's not going to be a quick rebuild.

I think they could get a very good additional value from their complementary players if they made them available.. Zubac? I think they could get the equivalent of 2 FRP from a team like the Lakers.. Powell, Bucks, Magic or Houston should be interested.. DJJ...

[Astaluego]

Beal+FRP(by SUNS)to Wizards
KL to Suns
Middleton+Smart to Clippers

Clippers expire KL's contract and send him to a "contender"...