NBA rumors: Clippers’ Lou Williams no longer available on trade market

After being made available this past offseason, Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams reportedly won’t be available at the NBA trade deadline.

Prior to the start of this season, it appeared that the Los Angeles Clippers were on the verge of making guard Lou Williams available in trade talks. Williams is set to become a free agent this summer, so it only makes sense for the Clippers to try and get something in return. That is reportedly not in the cards.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Clippers are no longer expected to trade Williams ahead of the March 25 deadline. In fact, sources told Amick that the Clippers “feel very good about their core” and would look for assistance on the margins at the deadline.

Clippers: Lou Williams no longer available in trade talks

Williams’ play in the Orlando bubble was less than stellar and he was entering the final season of his three-year, $24 million contract. That would certainly make you a trade candidate, especially on the championship-or-bust Clippers. But, the Clippers changed their stance due to his improved play in the latter portion of this season and for his leadership.

The Clippers currently sit in fourth-place in the Western Conference standings, but only find themselves four games behind the Utah Jazz for first. Even though they entered the All-Star break on a three-game losing streak, the Clippers are still among the favorites to win the NBA championship at season’s end.

Through 35 games this campaign, Williams has averaged 12.5 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 42.2-percent from the field and 39.8-percent from the field. In fact, Williams’ points and assists averages rank as the third-best on the team.

Williams has redeemed himself, so the organization feels there is no need to move him.