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Why the Los Angeles Lakers are the big losers of the Trade Deadline

By Jason Reed

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers slap hands after their team scored against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on February 01, 2020 in Sacramento, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 01: LeBron James #23 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers slap hands after their team scored against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on February 01, 2020 in Sacramento, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The Los Angeles Clippers undoubtedly got better

The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are viewed as the two teams that are well ahead of the rest of the Western Conference that will inevitably meet in the Western Conference Finals. The Clippers have closed the gap in the standings, now only two games behind the Lakers for the number one seed.

The Clippers have done so without being full strength for most of the season as well. Whether it be a few nagging injuries or the team looking to keep Kawhi Leonard and Paul George healthy for the playoffs, the Clippers have rarely fielded the best possible team on the court.

That is a concern. While it doesn’t really matter who is the number one seed in the Western Conference Finals, the Clippers are proving any early-season critics wrong and over the last month have been the better basketball team.

And they improved as well. The Clippers landed Marcus Morris, giving them another wing to shoot the three-point shot, and only had to give up Maurice Harkless, however they did trade their 2020 first-round pick and a pick swap in 2021.

That was part of a three-team trade that saw Isaiah Thomas also come to Los Angeles for Jerome Robinson. Thomas is another solid bench option that can score and has playoff experience.

It is not like the Clippers got any superstars at the deadline as Thomas and Morris are nothing more than solid role players, but it stands true that the Clippers undoubtedly improved while the Lakers stayed in place, which is a concern.

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