How the Los Angeles Clippers can trade up in the 2018 NBA Draft

The Los Angeles Clippers enter the 2018 NBA Draft with two lottery picks: their own and the Detroit Pistons, which was a product of the Blake Griffin trade.

The Los Angeles Clippers are at a fork in the road needing to decide whether to blow the roster up and rebuild or to try and add stars around DeAndre Jordan and company. Thus, the 2018 NBA Draft has become immensely important, as it may dictate what the Clippers do in the future.

The Los Angeles Clippers enter the draft with two lottery picks in their own and the Detroit Pistons’. Los Angeles acquired the pick in the trade that sent Blake Griffin to Detroit.

Detroit’s pick is top-three protected, so the Clippers are going to want to avoid any sort of lottery magic where that pick somehow makes it in the top three. However, there is still a chance that the team’s original pick lands in the top-three, although it is minuscule.

However, the 2018 NBA Draft may be a bit top heavy. While there certainly will be talent left when the 12th and 13th pick roll around, assuming that is where the picks land, those picks may be risky. Guys like Mitchell Robinson are intriguing and talented, but the chances of not working out are high.

Thus, if the team is moving towards the young, rebuilding direction, packing the picks up to get an elite prospect may be necessary. The team does not even need to move up in the top-three, the fourth through sixth picks will likely all be great as well. This draft is very talented at the top.

There are a few different scenarios that can pan out for the Los Angeles Clippers. However, there is one that I think is more likely than the rest.

This may seem like a lot to give up to move up marginally in the draft, but it is the right price to pay if the Los Angeles Clippers have a prospect in mind this high in the draft; which is very possible. Mohamed Bamba, Michael Porter Jr or even Marvin Bagley may still be on the board at this point in the draft.

More from LA Sports Hub

That is a huge step up from the risks the team would have to take later in the draft.

For the most part, this package is fair on both sides and would help both teams accomplish something. The Clippers would be trading up in the draft, which is the entire point of this deal.

As for the Bulls, they can get rid of Omer Asik and his contract for someone more productive in Boban Marjanovic. The team also gets a young asset in Sam Dekker as well as two picks to add depth to the team.

While it is not a foregone conclusion that the Clippers will even want to trade up at all in the draft, if the team did, a trade similar to this with the Chicago Bulls would be the best possible route. However, there is just as likely of a chance that the team will stay put or even use the picks to try and lure in a star like Kawhi Leonard via trade.

We will have to wait and see as the draft approaches, the Clippers’ plans may become more evident as time passes on.

Next: Clippers that could become trade bait

What do you think of this potential trade up? It definitely would be a blockbuster, some fans probably love it, others may hate it. Be sure to let your opinion be heard in the comments down below.

Home/Los Angeles Clippers