Around the NBA in 15 trades: Day 10, Bucks and Clippers
In the lead up to the Feb. 8 trade deadline, we’re taking all 30 teams and finding mutually beneficial partners. Every day will offer up a new deal with two new consorts. It’s kinda like the 12 days of Christmas, but instead of hens-a-laying and pear trees and other useless nonsense from your true love, you’re getting fake trades from me for a much higher holy day: the NBA trade deadline. Strap in tight, it’s trading season!
Before Monday evening’s Blakebuster, we weren’t sure if the Clippers would be content with fighting to make the playoffs or if they’d move their big names. Now it’s pretty clear. They weren’t contending in this era, so its time to reset the clock. Jerry West didn’t like the long-term projections of a cap-strapped roster built around a soon-to-be-29-year-old, injury-prone star making $142 million over the next four seasons. West isn’t here for a good time, he’s here to win championships.
Milwaukee just fired Jason Kidd. They know they have higher plateaus to ascend to, making the right upgrades could help them get there. The Bucks have been in rumored pursuit of DeAndre Jordan and justifiably so.
Why the Bucks do it:
This is a team that hasn’t made it out of the first round of the NBA playoffs since 2000-01. The fan base is ready to see some positive strides forward. The double-edged sword of deploying one of the NBA’s best players are the expectations attached.
Landing Jordan would be a great boost to their 20th-ranked defense,19th-ranked opponents’ points in the paint, and 27th-ranked rebounding rate.
Lou Williams is a microwave who can get buckets from everywhere on the floor. By any measure, he’s having the best season of his career. He’ll be a free agent, but acquiring him would give Milwaukee Williams’ Bird rights.
The Bucks would be mortgaging assets, but would become a dangerous group in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff ladder. They can use this half season to convince Jordan and Williams to stick around with a team on the rise.
Why the Clippers do it:
Jordan can opt out of his contract this summer. Of all the offensively-limited, dunking/rebounding/shot-blocking 5’s, he’s one of the better ones. But he’s also turning 30 in July and relies heavily on his athleticism. Once he loses a step, his effectiveness will fall off a cliff. Toiling in a transitional situation wouldn’t do good by anyone. Jordan can be the center on a championship-caliber team, but cannot be the focal point to rebuild around.
Milwaukee is out their first-round pick in 2018 from the Eric Bledsoe trade. However, they have a cluster of recent first rounders and future draft capital to give the Clippers the assets they seek.
D.J. Wilson was just selected in this prior draft. The rookie hasn’t gotten much run yet, but fits the archetypical mold of the power forward in today’s NBA.
Jabari Parker’s young career has been mired with tough injury luck, tearing his left ACL twice in two years. The former No. 2 overall pick is set to make his season debut on Friday. His rookie deal is ending so they’d have the rest of the season to evaluate a possible future in L.A.
Next: Around the NBA in 15 trades: Day 9, Celtics and Jazz
Thon Maker showed enough flashes in last year’s playoffs, and was tabbed as another potential unicorn. He hasn’t emerged this year, but that could be due to questionable coaching or because he might actually be 42. Getting consistent minutes can be the key to unlocking Maker’s mythological transformation.