5 trades for the Jazz to solve the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell impasse
By Alec Liebsch
Los Angeles Clippers
Akin to Boston, the Los Angeles Clippers have a notable weakness on the interior. It hasn’t hurt them much yet, but that matchup problem could aggrandize in a playoff series.
Considering that Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have player options after next season, it behooves the Clippers to do everything in their power to win right now. Factor in Montrezl Harrell‘s impending free agency and that center spot becomes even weaker.
With Rudy Gobert slated for free agency that same summer as George and Leonard, his timeline and on-court role complement the duo as well as anyone’s. With Gobert patrolling the interior, the wing duo can smother offenses like few teams ever have.
Reaching Gobert’s $26.5 million hit for next season is admittedly difficult for the Clippers, and their asset cupboard doesn’t make things any easier. But a trade is there if they really want it.
It bears repeating that the Clippers already have a pretty good defense. But with Gobert fortifying the back lines, they’d become one of the best units in history.
The Jazz get their hands on a young, controllable Gobert replacement (Ivica Zubac is 23) who has a $7.5 million team option for 2022-23. In addition they add Patrick Beverley, an ideal low-maintenance third guard for the duo of Mitchell and Conley. They clearly value that spot, as evidenced by their trade for Jordan Clarkson earlier this season.