The Los Angeles Clippers are heading into the final stretch of the season after altering their roster with minor trades ahead of the deadline. The team is 28-22 this season, holding the No. 6 seed in the West while hoping to remain competitive in the Playoffs as well.
They have added two players to their roster at the deadline while losing three and opening up a roster spot for a potential buyout signing. Bogdan Bogdanovic joins from the Atlanta Hawks, with Bones Hyland, Terance Mann, and picks headed their way. MarJon Beauchamp joins from the Milwaukee Bucks after a straight swap sent Kevin Porter Jr. there.
This is in addition to an earlier trade with the Utah Jazz where the Clippers acquired Drew Eubanks and Patty Mills.
Let’s take a look at how the James Harden and Kawhi Leonard-led franchise looks after the deadline as they hope to finish the season strong and compete for the No. 4 seed in the West.
Starting Lineup
James Harden, Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr., Kawhi Leonard, Ivica Zubac
The Clippers will likely leave their starting five unchanged after the trade deadline. They are a well-rounded five with shooting, defense, and paint protection, with a gifted playmaker running the show.
James Harden is averaging 21.3 points and 8.4 assists, leading the Clippers as their biggest offensive force. While his shooting splits aren’t pretty (39.3 FG%), his influence on the game with the ball in his hand has set almost all of his teammates up for success. This is shown through 30-year-old Norman Powell having a breakout season, leading the team in scoring with 24.0 points per game.
Derrick Jones Jr. was an inspired offseason addition, becoming their go-to perimeter defender. Jones can guard four positions on the court and is an explosive rim finisher with a serviceable outside shot. He has helped Kawhi Leonard since the two-time Finals MVP returned to the court earlier this year. He’s plugged in offensively without missing a beat while finding his defensive footing alongside Jones Jr.
Ivica Zubac is having a breakout year, averaging 15.1 points and 12.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 48 games this season.. He’s the perfect center for this team, adding interior toughness in a big Western Conference. This starting five covers all bases a team needs on the court, so it’d be foolish to change it up now.
Reserves
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kris Dunn, Drew Eubanks, Nicolas Batum, MarJon Beauchamp, Amir Coffey, Kobe Brown, Patty Mills, Cam Christie, Trentyn Flowers (Two-Way), Kai Jones (Two-Way), Jordan Miller (Two-Way)
The acquisition of Bogdan Bogdanovic is a bet that the shooting guard can function as the team’s Sixth Man given the lack of offense in the second unit. He’s averaging 10.0 points in a rough season where he lost his place as a starter, but he still has a lot to offer. MarJon Beauchamp is a perimeter defense option, but the swingman isn’t expected to play heavy minutes and is still a developing prospect.
Another winter addition, Drew Eubanks, should be an impactful backup big man. Zubac hasn’t had a competent backup this season outside the now-released Mo Bamba, so Eubanks addresses a clear need on the roster. Patty Mills is unlikely to contribute at this point in his career but is a great veteran bench option that they added alongside Eubanks.
The players who didn’t get traded and remain as reserves are a lot of young prospects and defensive specialists. Kris Dunn is a terrific backup guard due to his defense, although his offense isn’t reliable at all. Nicolas Batum is a serviceable 3-and-D forward but is past the point of playing heavy minutes. Amir Coffey has been another 3-and-D swingman coming off the bench and he might be the second-best offensive option in the reserves after Bogdanovic, although his consistency is spotty.
Young players like Beauchamp, Kobe Brown, and Cam Christie are unlikely to get big minutes. Brown has been a decent backup power forward when called upon but he’s still not ready to help a Playoff team regularly. Cam Christie’s brother Max might have earned a starting spot in LA this season (before getting traded) but Cam is still a very raw prospect who the Clippers see long-term value in.
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