The Los Angeles Clippers are a team that has clearly struggled this year, and they are currently 22-22 on the season. It is clear that they need to make a change ahead of the trade deadline if they are to be serious championship contenders. The time to go all-in on the Kawhi Leonard – Paul George era is now.
- The Los Angeles Clippers Get Some Great Guard Players
- The Toronto Raptors Get A Valuable Pick In Exchange For Their Veterans
- The Clippers And Raptors Should Absolutely Do This Trade
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This trade scenario features the Los Angeles Clippers trading for Gary Trent Jr. and Fred VanVleet. They would send out a number of their veterans in this deal, as well as their tradeable 2028 first-round pick.
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr.
Toronto Raptors Receive: Marcus Morris Jr., Reggie Jackson, John Wall, 2028 First-Round Pick (LAC)
This trade definitely has benefits for both teams. It is clear that this move would make the Clippers a championship-tier team, while the Toronto Raptors would get some solid value from this deal. Here is why each team should make this trade.
The Los Angeles Clippers Get Some Great Guard Players
The Los Angeles Clippers have a solid amount of depth, but one of their consistent weaknesses this season has been guard play. Neither Reggie Jackson nor John Wall has been the answer for the PG position, and perhaps making a swing for a better player is in order. Though Fred VanVleet has struggled this year with his efficiency, he should be able to have an easier time scoring as the No. 3 or No. 4 offensive option behind Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
At his best, Fred VanVleet provides the combination of playmaking and shooting that the Los Angeles Clippers need to be successful, and he can be a solid perimeter shot-creator in a pinch. As of right now, Fred VanVleet is averaging 18.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 6.3 APG. He notably has experience playing with Kawhi Leonard as well, as he was part of the 2019 Toronto Raptors team that won the championship.
Gary Trent Jr. is the perfect sort of two-way player to put next to superstars. He knows how to play off the ball, can play defense, and is also capable of hitting contested looks at times. He would likely immediately start at the shooting guard position due to his skill set. However, Gary Trent Jr. could also play a big role as a sixth man, providing offense off the bench. He has had a solid season with the Toronto Raptors, averaging 18.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.7 SPG.
Though losing some key veterans such as Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson would hurt the team, the upgrades in this scenario would be worth it. The Clippers would also have to sacrifice one of their future first-round picks to make this deal, since the Raptors would likely want some form of trade compensation in return. This deal definitely is a risk for the Los Angeles Clippers. However, it is not often that you have a player like Kawhi Leonard on the team, and it makes sense to go all-in since he has looked like a superstar in the past few weeks, and has a track record of winning.
The Toronto Raptors Get A Valuable Pick In Exchange For Their Veterans
Both Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. technically have two years left on their contracts, but the last year on both of their deals features a player option, which they are likely to decline. Thus, it makes sense for the Toronto Raptors to explore trades for both players rather than let them walk in free agency for nothing in return.
The key here for the Toronto Raptors is getting some solid players that they can trade down the line. Though Reggie Jackson’s contract is expiring this season, Marcus Morris and John Wall can contribute immediately, while potentially getting moved next year. Since Morris and Wall will be on expiring deals next season, there will likely be a number of teams who want to acquire them for salary relief purposes. The Toronto Raptors would be taking on no long-term salary in this deal.
The 2028 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Clippers is likely to be valuable since the team will not be a contender at that point in time. That pick could easily be used in a trade to build a better team around Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes, or perhaps the Raptors could end up drafting a lottery prospect with that pick in the future. Regardless of what they do, it is clear that the pick has some value based on how high it is projected to be.
This deal will give the Toronto Raptors some pieces to work with for their rebuild/retool. While they wouldn’t get an insane amount of draft compensation in this deal, that is understandable due to Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr’s contract situations. It thus makes sense to take the value deal, and it is clear that this is a deal that gives good value for Toronto.
The Clippers And Raptors Should Absolutely Do This Trade
There is no doubt that this is a good deal from both teams’ perspectives. The Los Angeles Clippers acquire players that can help the right the ship this season and potentially win a championship. This would definitely increase the team’s talent level and give them two solid starters that can immediately start helping them win more games.
For the Toronto Raptors, this deal is simply about avoiding the potential scenario of Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. leaving without a return in free agency. The Raptors are already listening to offers for their core players, and perhaps this is a deal they could look at in the future.
Overall, this deal helps the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors with their specific goals and ends up being a win-win deal for both teams. It will be interesting to see if a deal with this framework ever happens, but it definitely has the potential to be a good move for everyone involved.
