The Los Angeles Clippers are reaching an odd stage in their franchise’s project. After yet another disappointing postseason outing, featuring a difficult seven-game series loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round, the Clippers are at an impasse.
The team saw some tremendous performances in the regular season, particularly by their star James Harden. Although Kawhi Leonard was absent for a large portion of it, Harden and the Clippers still managed to secure the fifth seed in the West with a 50-32 record.
The Clippers saw many of their core players step up in the absence of a superstar, and by doing so, ensured that the team remained competitive until the very end. Unfortunately, the future of the team seems unstructured.
With an aging superstar duo, it is abundantly clear that the team is in a “win now” mode. However, as constructed, the team isn’t prepared to make a deep run in the playoffs, particularly considering the consistently poor performances by Harden in big game situations.
With this in mind, the franchise has looked to make some changes in the offseason. Although there appears to be no intention of altering their core, they will still attempt to strengthen their supporting cast.
This leads to the emergence of a number of dream targets that the organization could look to acquire. In this regard, the Utah Jazz have been presented as a potential trade destination by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz.
Swartz presented a trio of guards, namely, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and Keyonte George, as the “dream targets” for LA. Let’s take a look at a potential deal that could help the Clippers acquire all three in one move.
Proposed Trade Details:
Los Angeles Clippers: Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, Keyonte George
Utah Jazz: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Derrick Jones Jr., 2031 first-round pick, 2027 second-round pick
While this trade certainly looks tantalizing for the Clippers organization, it may not have much merit as a package, unfortunately.
The Clippers Stack Up On Guards
A trade bringing the likes of Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and Keyonte George would be incredible for LA on paper. Other than Clarkson, who is 32 years old now, the trade brings a lot of young talent over to the Clippers roster.
Sexton could be an incredible addition to the team. He is known to be an extremely hardworking guard. His hustle and intensity make up for a lot of his innate shortcomings. Regardless, he is capable of adding immense value to any team he is on.
The 26-year-old recorded an average of 18.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, making him a solid role player on a contending side. Although marginally undersized, he is capable of making up for it with his tremendous work ethic.
Clarkson, on the other hand, is a proven scorer. The former 6MOTY is capable of single-handedly reinvigorating a team’s offense with life. His creativity with the ball makes him an incredible player to have coming off the bench.
Although he was absent for a large portion of the 2024-25 season, owing to injuries, he still recorded an average of 16.2 points and 3.7 assists on 40.8% shooting from the field.
While his age and injury status would pose a concern for the Clippers, there are very veterans who are as capable of contributing in the capacity that the Jazz guard is.
The real prize takeaway in this trade is the acquisition of Keyonte George. George is an incredible talent with a lot of upside. At only 21 years old, the guard has showcased immense latent potential that could be worth developing.
George notched an average of 16.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in his sophomore season. After taking a step forward from his rookie season averages, the Jazz guard has looked like a more reliable scoring option. Although he isn’t primarily a starter on the team, he has displayed enough capability to embrace the role.
George doesn’t necessarily match the Clippers’ timeline to win now. However, he would be solid insurance in case the team decides to enter a rebuild and needs young players to structure their roster around.
Why The Jazz Refuse To Do This Deal
This deal has all the elements of being a successful one. However, the success would only be enjoyed by the Clippers.
Utah is a team that has seen the bottom of the barrel in the West. Since parting with Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, the Jazz have struggled to restructure their team to return to winning ways. Making moves that add value to the team would be an ideal starting point.
This is not to say that the team lacks talent. The Jazz have some incredibly talented players in the mix. Unfortunately, they simply haven’t been able to settle into a positive rhythm.
This trade proposal in particular could set Utah back even further. Losing out on Sexton and George could harm their guard rotation. Meanwhile, acquiring Bogdanovic and Jones Jr. fulfills nothing in the context of what they need.
While presenting draft compensation has been a commonly used tactic to entice teams into doing trades, the Jazz have no need for this. Having accumulated enough draft capital over the past few seasons, Utah simply stands to gain nothing from engaging in such a deal with the Clippers.
