The Los Angeles Clippers need to find a way to realistically push for the NBA title next year because their championship window is closing. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have player options in the 2024-25 season, and they could opt out if the team fails to win it all. As a matter of fact, the reason the Clippers aren’t winning is mainly due to Leonard and George consistently dealing with injuries and being unable to play together always. Leonard has played under 65 games for five straight seasons and George has played under 65 games for four straight seasons.
However, knowing Leonard’s personality and unplanned decisions, he could decide to leave and that would be the end of the Los Angeles Clippers as we know them. But there is a way for the Clippers to actually win a championship next year and the best method would be acquiring 6-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan in one of the biggest deals in recent memory. DeRozan is one of the game’s best mid-range scorers and recently made his 6th All-Star Team while posting 24.5 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 5.1 APG. Even while playing for a subpar Chicago Bulls team, DeRozan had no problem scoring the ball in isolation.
A chance to acquire DeMar DeRozan would catapult the Clippers to the top of the Western Conference because a Big Three that has three All-Star players would be hard to compete against. In fact, DeRozan admitted that there was a chance for them to compete together and we might finally see it this summer. Here is the trade package that would give the Clippers a third All-Star offensive player to improve their ability to win games consistently while the superstar duo miss time through injury or remain available.
Clippers Land DeRozan For Two Players
Trade Details
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: DeMar DeRozan
Chicago Bulls: Norman Powell, Terance Mann
No doubt, a deal like this would only work if the Chicago Bulls believe that Norman Powell could become an All-Star or possibly act as a valuable trade asset for the future. Meanwhile, Terance Mann is only 26 years old and can be a franchise cornerstone player in the long run. In a deal that could benefit both sides, here is why this blockbuster trade makes sense.
Los Angeles Clippers Have The Best Starting Lineup In The Western Conference
The Los Angeles Clippers have had a decent 2022-23 NBA season, but they need to make a big move if they want to compete for a championship next year. One possible trade that would take them over the top would be acquiring DeMar DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls. DeRozan is a six-time NBA All-Star and a proven scorer who has averaged 20 or more points per game in each of the past ten seasons. He would be an ideal fit alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, forming a potent Big Three that could carry the team deep into the playoffs.
The main reason why the Clippers should trade for DeRozan is his ability to create his own shot. While both Leonard and George are capable of taking over games on their own, having another scorer who can create his own shot would take the pressure off of them. DeRozan is one of the best mid-range shooters in the league, and his ability to get to the free-throw line would also be a valuable addition to the team. After all, the All-Star scorer averaged 50.4% from the field and 87.2% from the free-throw line. DeRozan is also renowned for his versatility. He is capable of playing both shooting guard and small forward, which would allow the Clippers to mix and match their lineups depending on the opponent.
DeRozan’s defensive ability is also underrated, as he has averaged over 1.0 SPG in six seasons over his career. Acquiring DeRozan would send a clear message to the rest of the league that the Clippers are serious about winning a championship. While they have had some success in recent years, they have yet to make it to the NBA Finals despite having one of the best duos in NBA history. Adding someone like DeRozan to the team would give them more firepower and make them a more intimidating opponent. There is no doubt DeRozan would give them another scoring option, more defensive versatility, and a boost in morale as they seek to finally win a championship. Look at the depth of the Clippers when the DeRozan deal goes through.
Starting Lineups: Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac
Best Players On Bench: Markieff Morris, Bones Hyland, Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington
The key for this deal making the most sense is Russell Westbrook returning on a mid-level contract. This is the only way the Clippers can retain Russ and still insert DeRozan into the starting lineup. A deep lineup with four former and current All-Stars paired with a capable two-way center in Ivica Zubac means no team can match up with Los Angeles’ firepower. Losing Norman Powell (17.0 PPG in 2023) and Terance Mann will hurt depth, but they will still have the recently-acquired Bones Hyland, along with Markieff Morris, Nicolas Batum, and Robert Covington, who all score and play defense.
Chicago Gets Younger And Starts A Rebuild
The Chicago Bulls have had another disappointing season so far, with the team looking like a pretender in the Eastern Conference. However, the team still has issues and might need to rebuild once and for all. This is where a trade for Norman Powell and Terance Mann of the Los Angeles Clippers could come in handy. Powell and Mann are both talented players who have shown a lot of promise in their time with the Clippers. Powell, in particular, has been a consistent contributor offensively, averaging 17.0 PPG this season while shooting over 39% from three-point range. He’s also an athletic wing defender, which is something the Bulls could use more of.
Mann, on the other hand, is a versatile guard who can play multiple positions. He’s been a solid contributor for the Clippers off the bench, averaging 8.8 PPG and 3.4 RPG this season. While he’s not a star player, he’s the kind of role player who can make a big impact in the right situation. What both of these players bring to the table is depth and versatility. This is something that the Bulls need if they want to rebuild around youngsters. While the Bulls have some talented players on their roster, they don’t have a lot of reliable options off the bench.
Powell and Mann are both players who can come off the bench and make an impact on both ends of the floor, at the very least. Of course, the obvious question is what the Bulls would give up in exchange. In this scenario, it would likely be draft picks or young players who aren’t seeing a lot of playing time. The Bulls are a rebuilding team, so they have assets that they can afford to part with if it means improving their chances of winning in the long term. Overall, trading for Norman Powell and Terance Mann could be a smart move for the Bulls. The two players would give the team some much-needed depth and versatility, which could also spell the end for Zach LaVine.
LaVine could be another player on the way out because he could yield even a greater trade package as he is 28 years old and a more attractive target than DeRozan. Rebuilding with the assets LaVine yields, along with Terance Mann and possibly Norman Powell, could be the way the Bulls finally get out of first-round exits and play-in tournaments.
The Clippers Win A Blockbuster Trade To Win The Championship
In a deal that would shake up the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers can create a dynamic Big Three and possibly Big Four with Russell Westbrook proving he can still be a superstar player at times. With four big names and the talented Ivica Zubac rolling to the rim, rebounding, and playing defense, the Clippers have an incredibly talented lineup. Westbrook would only compete for the Clippers on a mid-level deal because adding DeRozan’s $28.6 million contract would create a bit of a problem salary-cap-wise. Knowing Steve Ballmer and his willingness to do whatever it takes to win, that won’t be an issue. If Westbrook wants to play for a title contender and actually strive for a championship, he might be able to accept a deal to fit in with the Clippers’ fans.
The Chicago Bulls are forced into a rebuild with this deal, but it is better than losing DeRozan for nothing, as the All-Star will be a free agent after next season. The Bulls will need to keep Terance Mann because he is 26 years old and can be an offensive player who can score in a variety of ways and is improving defensively. Mann averaged 8.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 2.3 APG on 51.9% shooting from the field, and he can improve those numbers with more playing time. Norman Powell was a contender for the 6th Man of the Year award by posting 17.0 PPG, and he is an automatic firestarter off the bench. Powell could be a player the Bulls could trade later on for more assets or try to make him an All-Star alongside Zach LaVine.
The Los Angeles Clippers would absolutely win the deal and actually be the favorite to win the championship. A team with Leonard, George, and DeRozan is good enough to win it all, especially when backed by the potential of Russell Westbrook. Westbrook averaged 23.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 7.4 APG in the first-round series against the Phoenix Suns for the Clippers and might be willing to take a pay cut to win a title. The bench is also deep with scorers and defenders, but the key will be critically adding a third All-Star to keep the team going when either Leonard or George is dealing with injuries.
