Clippers rumors: Four trade targets to consider this season

The Los Angeles Clippers are officially entering the post-Chris Paul era. According to the latest Clippers rumors, here are five trade targets LA should pursue.

The Los Angeles Clippers have made the NBA Postseason seven times this century. Six of those times were the last six seasons, all coming with Chris Paul running the offense at the point guard position. Paul was dealt to the Houston Rockets in a sign and trade deal.

Now, the Clippers face their first season without Paul since the 2010-11 season. Los Angeles finished 32-50 that season; Blake Griffin was just a rookie and DeAndre Jordan was in his second NBA season.

The Clippers are going to look to avoid that misfortune in their first season without Paul in seven years. While Griffin has transgressed into one of the best power forwards in the league to lead a talented unit, the questions still rise for the Clippers. What if Griffin gets hurt, or Jordan? What will the team do then?

While the Clippers still have one of the best frontcourts in all of basketball, these questions are extremely justifiable. Los Angeles plays in the very tough Western Conference, in the East, they would be a shoo-in for the playoffs. In the West, there are at least five teams that are far more talented than the Clippers.

To keep up, Los Angeles may need to make a trade during the season. Or, the team could go in another direction and start building around Griffin. The Clippers are in the worst spot to be; they are not rebuilding, but they are not contenders. They are stuck in between.