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Los Angeles Clippers: Maurice Harkless doesn’t make team more intriguing

By Jason Reed

PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 03: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets go after a ball during the first half of the game at Moda Center on May 03, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 03: Maurice Harkless #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Paul Millsap #4 of the Denver Nuggets go after a ball during the first half of the game at Moda Center on May 03, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Clippers were included in a four-team trade on Monday that led to the team landing Maurice Harkless and another future Miami Heat pick.

The Los Angeles Clippers have made two somewhat significant moves this offseason by re-signing defensive point guard Patrick Beverly and also taking place in a four-team trade to land Maurice Harkless and a draft pick.

The four-team trade included the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Portland Trailblazers. The Heat landed and extended Jimmy Butler while the Trailblazers acquired Hassan Whiteside from Miami.

The 76ers got Josh Richardson for Butler and the Los Angeles Clippers got Maurice Harkless and the Miami Heat’s first-round pick in 2023. The Clippers did not send any assets away and instead served as a team to take on Harkless’ contract.

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The important part of this deal is the first-round pick and is ultimately why the Clippers made this move. And for that reason, this is absolutely genius. The team did nothing but take on an expiring contract that they can afford and received a draft pick as a result.

Granted, the pick is a lottery-protected pick, but that is still great value considering how the Clippers were involved in this trade.

Although it is a good trade for the Los Angeles Clippers, fans should prevent themselves from taking it an extra step and assuming it is what it isn’t.

The addition of Harkless is nothing more than acquiring an expiring contract for a draft pick. It is not a move that is meant to make the Clippers more intriguing to Kawhi Leonard. This is a guy that averaged 7.7 points per game last year and won’t suddenly shift Leonard’s thought-process.

Harkless certainly can help with the depth of the team and is going to make it easier to fill out a rotation that right now has little to no size. Harkless can play either forward spot and at six-foot-nine, provides the Clippers with some size.

However, he is not going to help the team in recruiting Leonard. While some might want to spin it as a guy that can perform in the playoffs, Harkless is not starting caliber and should not be the starting four on a title-contending team.

He is depth and depth only that was only taken on because there is still enough cap space room for Leonard and because of the fact that his contract is expiring. Not only is the team still flexible this summer but will have enough space for a max contract next summer as well.

For that reason, it is a fine trade. Other than that, it is nothing that will have a massive impact on the team. Harkless just isn’t that kind of player.

Next. Beverley is overpriced. dark

So before getting excited and assuming this is a precursor to Kawhi Leonard, we advise you to stay relaxed. This does nothing to sway Leonard either way, even if some think it does.

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