The trade deadline is over, and there is no doubt that it was one of the craziest deadlines we’ve seen in recent memory. There were multiple huge trades, with Kevin Durant most notably going to the Phoenix Suns.
The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the teams that made big improvements to their rotation, adding Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland, and Mason Plumlee. They also managed to move off Reggie Jackson and John Wall, who were both poor in their minutes this year.
It is quite possible that the Los Angeles Clippers are not done making moves yet, as they could still sign some solid players off the buyout market. Since they are in a big market and are a championship contender, it is easy to see veterans potentially joining them after getting bought out.
In this article, we will discuss the best potential buyout targets for the Los Angeles Clippers, and there are certainly solid veterans out there that can help the team win a championship this year.
3. Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose is currently out of the rotation for the New York Knicks, and there’s no doubt that it’s been a tough year for him from an efficiency standpoint. However, it is quite possible that he will have a better time as a buyout candidate for the Los Angeles Clippers, given a bigger role and time to develop a rhythm. Though he technically has two years left on his contract, Rose could be a buyout candidate since the last year of his contract is a team option.
During the 2021-22 season, Derrick Rose showed that he could still be a solid backup point guard, averaging 12.0 PPG and 4.0 APG for the New York Knicks while shooting 40.2% from the 3PT range. One of the things that the Los Angeles Clippers still need is a legitimate point guard, who can take some of the ballhandling duties away from Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, while also running the offense. Derrick Rose could play the PG role for them, and he would give the team another element of rim pressure and playmaking on the roster.
Though Derrick Rose would be a solid fit for the team, there are definitely some concerns about his overall durability. Though obviously, that is less of a risk this year since he hasn’t been playing much and is likely fresh, that is something to consider. Derrick Rose would be a good addition, but perhaps there are better players out there that could contribute immediately to the Clippers.
2. Danny Green
Danny Green is not necessarily the same player that he once was with the San Antonio Spurs and the Toronto Raptors, but he could still be a solid contributor as a 3PT specialist. Though he has struggled with his inside-the-arc offense during this season with the Memphis Grizzlies, he is still a solid shooter, averaging 37.5% from the 3PT range. Adding extra shooting doesn’t ever hurt a team, especially if it is done at a low cost from the buyout market.
Beyond his shooting, there are a few good reasons for the Los Angeles Clippers to add Danny Green. He has a familiarity with Kawhi Leonard, winning championships with the superstar with both the Spurs and the Raptors. He is also an experienced player that has championship experience, something that is crucial for a team with title aspirations. Even if he doesn’t end up playing huge minutes, having him on the roster is a benefit for the Clippers.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Los Angeles Clippers do go for Danny Green in the future. Adding a decent 3 and D player on the veteran minimum to replace the outgoing Luke Kennard could definitely be good for the team, but obviously Green doesn’t necessarily help them with their lack of a floor general.
1. Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook was an extremely controversial player during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, but there is no doubt that he can still contribute to a team with his skillset. Even though his scoring has clearly declined due to his relative drop in athleticism, Russell Westbrook is still a solid slasher who excels at playmaking and rebounding as well. This year, Russell Westbrook has averaged 15.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 7.5 APG for the Los Angeles Lakers.
There are a few reasons that Russell Westbrook failed on the Los Angeles Lakers: his skillset overlapped with LeBron James, and his lack of an off-ball game forced the team to bring him off the bench to ensure that he would have the freedom to play his game. There is no doubt that this was one of the worst possible situations for him from a basketball standpoint, especially since the Lakers were also a poor 3PT shooting team for the majority of the season.
In theory, Russell Westbrook should fit well with the Los Angeles Clippers. They have enough 3PT shooting to ensure that he has optimal spacing, and both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can play off-the-ball a little as well. There are a variety of lineups that the team could run with him, and he would be effective for the Los Angeles Clippers both as a starter or coming off the bench. Paul George has openly claimed that Russell Westbrook could be good for the Los Angeles Clippers, and perhaps it is time for the team to explore signing him.
Even from Russell Westbrook’s perspective, choosing the Los Angeles Clippers should be an easy choice. He would be walking onto a championship-level team, flanked by two stars that would make the game easier for him. Westbrook would be in a situation where he could essentially rebuild his value, and show that the Los Angeles Lakers were wrong about him and his ability.
There are definitely other teams that will be in the mix for Russell Westbrook on the buyout market, as he is an acquisition that could be a difference-maker in the right situation. Hopefully, Russell Westbrook ends up going to the Los Angeles Clippers and gets a chance to truly compete for a championship.
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