Los Angeles Clippers: How to trade up without trading 12th and 13th pick

The possibility of trading up for an elite prospect is on the table for the Los Angeles Clippers. Even better, the Clippers can maintain their own picks as well.

We have actively discussed the Los Angeles Clippers potentially trading both the 12th and 13th overall pick to move up higher in the lottery in the 2018 NBA Draft. And while the Clippers’ need for a true superstar out of this draft is present, the team can add one without trading both picks.

However, the team can also add a superstar before both of the picks. It may seem confusing, but we worked out a pretty good three-team trade that would benefit all three parties.

The chances of this trade are pretty slim; the chances of the Clippers just packaging both draft picks is higher. Three-team trades are less common in the NBA, especially on draft night. However, if there were to be a three-team trade, this would make the most sense.

This trade has so many running variables that not only make it make sense but also requires a minute to think about and let it all settle in.

Thus, we are going to run down why this trade makes sense for each team involved, starting with the Los Angeles Clippers.

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The Los Angeles Clippers are in no place to contend and need to stay in the lottery the next several years to maintain their first-round picks. No assets on the team are locked down long-term and even this roster, as it currently stands, is a seventh or eighth seed at best.

Here the Clippers are adding a third lottery pick to their arsenal to accelerate this rebuild. While it does take getting rid of Tobias Harris, the Clippers can also take on the massive salary of George Hill to give the Cavaliers some relief. It doesn’t really matter for the Clippers, who aren’t trying to bring in pieces the next two years.

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, this trade makes sense for multiple reasons. First and foremost, the team can get a big contract off the books and is only committing to one season of Harris.

Second, the team is flipping Kevin Love for some young talent in Markelle Fultz and Dario Saric. Typically it would take a high draft pick for a team to take on a contract like Hill, but in this trade, the Cavaliers are only moving two spots which just is a small price to pay for a big contract.

For the 76ers, this trade makes sense as it adds established talent to a roster that is ready to win in exchange for young pieces that did not seem to fit the process to begin with. Saric is solid but will be replaced by an upgrade in Love.

The 76ers do not need any more young players. Trading this pick should be easy for the team to do.

Next: Is trading up for Trae Young worth it?

All three teams can help each other accomplish their own goals. The Los Angeles Clippers get another pick to start the rebuild, the Cleveland Cavaliers get a good reset post-LeBron and the Philadelphia 76ers get an established star without sacrificing much cap space.

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