Lakers Rumors: A trade with the Clippers could change everything
By Keith Rivas
Why the Clippers would say yes
At first you might think that this trade opportunity is a bit of a stretch for both teams. First, because of the fact that nobody in their right mind — so you would think — would want that horrendous Deng contract. Second, the Lakers have a solid shooting guard in Jordan Clarkson, so why add even more depth at that position?
Well, here’s the thing. The weird part about this potential trade is that both sides would be helping each other tremendously. With the deal, the Lakers would be able to move between Patrick Beverley and Jordan Clarkson at the one or two, and even involve Beverley in a starting role if Kentavious Caldwell-Pope needs to get moved to the bench.
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Both Caldwell-Pope and Beverley are good defensively, so it would enhance the Lakers with that respect almost instantaneously.
So how does this help the Clippers?
Well, again, it has to do with their mindset which should be focused on a rebuild. Blake Griffin can’t be your leader if you’re losing nine straight games and having such an inconsistent start to the year that even the first round of the playoffs might not be in the conversation.
It’s almost surreal how well the Clippers have been able to fool themselves by just telling them that they’re really that good. This losing streak is hopefully the wakeup call that the Clippers need that it’s okay to move on from the core that didn’t do much for them in the big scheme of things.
They lost three starters last year anyway, and the other two shouldn’t have even stayed in LA. It took drastic measures to confine DeAndre Jordan and change his mind from leaving for Dallas and it took a Brinks truck and then some to keep Griffin around.
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It’s time to rebuild, and the Clippers need to accept that fact. If they deny it, they’re only going to dig themselves deeper. And it won’t be pretty.