First, it was Malcolm Brogdon. Then it was James Harden. Now it's Jrue Holiday. Pick one already!
Brogdon initially began as a role starter, but could never get close to the 70 game threshold due to injuries. When traded to the Celtics, he was asked to become a role player, coming off the bench, resulting in a Sixth Man award for the 2022-23 season. Clippers love Sixth Man award winners, and actually lead the league in this category with five. Also a Good Samaritan as there are no recorded concerns of scandals or distractions, and has no ejections in his career - another lead by example, Spurs-type that Kawhi Leonard prefers. Brogdon was to be traded to Clippers before talks broke down, something about "no time for a physical." Reports have surfaced that Clippers are trying again to get him.
Harden shocked the NBA by calling Daryl Morey a liar and getting fined for it, but it was opting in to the contract and demanding a trade to Clippers that had our eyes rolling back as if to faint in disgust. Clippers have been criticized for not taking competition seriously ever since they acquired Leonard, and only seem invested when being forced to via ultimatums. What better way to prove their seriousness than to trade for a true superstar who has 10 All-Star appearances and a regular season MVP in 2018. Combined with Leonard, Russell Westbrook and Paul George, all of which have a combined 19 All-Star selections, an MVP for Westbrook, and 2 Finals MVPs for Leonard, Clippers will have a Fantastic 4. Trade talks have stopped because of the Clipper's reluctance to give up beloved role player and savior Terance Mann, but with the wrinkle that is our next point guard of interest, maybe Morey will mellow out for once.
The surprise superstar trade of Damian Lillard to the Bucks turned Holiday into a new Clipper target. Holiday brings the best of both worlds and more: a role starter (role player who performs best as a starter) who has elevated himself into a role star with his first All-Star selection in 10 years. Like with Brogdon, no scandals or distractions, no ejections either, a Good Samaritan Spurs-type player through and through. More importantly, he won a title with the Bucks in 2021.
Each player has its own cons, but we'll start with the superstar. Of the three point guards, Harden exhibits the most problems: ego, greed, and selfishness. He has gotten ejected from games, and will turn on his teammates when the going gets tough. Brogdon and Holiday are easier to command because they have Spursian quality of being good teammates, so they have to be plagued by the injury bug. Brogdon is the cheaper option because he's a role player and role players don't cost much, but Holiday and Harden each have accolades which raise their market value, requiring Clippers to give up a minimum six players plus draft picks. Working with Sixers is easier said than done as Morey wants Clippers to tank for him (and he's not going through a reverse farm trade), whereas Blazers are an easier get because Steve Ballmer is friends with the Paul Allen family back in their days of Microsoft.
Then there is the Warriors. There are now rumors Golden State will shift gears and ship Chris Paul to the Blazers to get Jrue Holiday. That happens, I would not be surprised if Paul buys out his contract in Portland, then joins Lakers as their secret weapon. Lakers get Paul, we are guaranteed a Lakers-Clippers playoff series. Heat will look to steal Harden just so that Clippers could feel miserable. What if Brogdon is traded somewhere else instead of Clippers - or worse, bought out? As a 2nd apron team, Clippers are barred from signing any players who were bought out. If either or all of Harden, Holiday and Brogdon get waived, Clippers can't get them. There's a chance Clippers go home empty handed, and will really be forced to improve internally.
Or perhaps, because Harden, Holiday and Brogdon are on the market, what if they went after all three? You get the Fantastic 4 of Westbrook-Harden-Leonard-George, Brogdon and Holiday coming off the bench, and if you can find a way to keep Mann in all of this mess, the media will shut up and let competition takes its course. But then you gotta worry that ejections to Leonard, George or both could end their season prematurely. This really is a Killer Kombat season.
Choose your point guard, or choose your alternative. Who would be perfect for Clippers?
