Los Angeles Clippers: Three players that could become trade bait
By Jason Reed
3. Tobias Harris
It is interesting that every potential trade chip listed are all guys that the Los Angeles Clippers traded for over the last year. While that was not my intention heading into this, I think it is a fair assessment of the current status of the Clippers.
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If the Clippers are going to go in either direction this offseason, they are going to have to get rid of some of the pieces that the team acquired. While that may seem pointless now, it would be an effective swap from trading away Paul and the massive contract of Griffin for easier pieces to trade for young assets.
In the case of Tobias Harris, trading him can really go either way. Harris emerged as a very good player last season, playing just as good as Blake Griffin did after the trade in February. For a contending team looking to add secondary scorers, like the Cavaliers for example, Harris is a very interesting piece to consider.
Thus, the Los Angeles Clippers could capitalize on that intrigue and send Harris to a contender that is willing to overpay for his services.
Or, it could be on the reverse side of the coin. If the Clippers are going to try and make a move for a star like Kawhi Leonard — or any potential trade target — the team is going to have to part ways with some solid pieces.
Harris is the best piece to part ways with. Not only is he valuable on the court, his $14.8 million expiring contract makes it easier to package him in deals for larger contracts.
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Thus, since it really can go both ways, Tobias Harris may be the most likely Clipper to be traded this offseason. While that may upset some fans, and I understand why, remember: the NBA is a business. If the Clippers traded Blake Griffin after calling him a “Clipper for life,” they will have no problem trading Harris.