4 point guards who could elevate this contender into a favorite

The Los Angeles Clippers need point guard help. They’ve been linked to several intriguing names. Who could they actually get?

It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Clippers are looking for point guard help.

Paul George’s best friend Reggie Jackson hasn’t been the answer — he’s an average defender with limited playmaking instincts who left his jumper in the bubble and hasn’t been able to find it again.

Despite some flashes, John Wall hasn’t been a savior, either. As a result, the team is reportedly looking to trade Wall or buy him out if a suitor can’t be found.

With Kawhi Leonard rounding into form and Paul George healthy-ish, Los Angeles has won seven of their last nine games and currently would have home-court advantage in the West. But an upgrade at the vanguard is critical for them to feel good about their odds of winning more than one playoff series.

The Clippers know point guard is a weakness, and they’ve been linked to several intriguing names of late, including Kyrie Irving. Unfortunately (or fortunately), they were outbid for the talented-but-controversial figure, but there are still some sweet-shooting fish in the sea.

The Clippers reportedly have talked to teams about several high-profile point guards

D’Angelo Russell, Minnesota Timberwolves

Russell is a polarizing figure in NBA circles. He’s a ball-dominant, shoot-first point guard, like Jackson, but unlike Reggie, Russell actually makes shots. D’Angelo has showcased career-best efficiency this season, hitting 39 percent from 3 and 55 percent from 2 while averaging more than six assists per game.

His shot selection can drive fans mad at times, but D’Angleo has shown more willingness to play second or third fiddle on offense this year than ever before — he’s attempting a career-low 14.7 shots per 36 minutes. His efforts to set up Anthony Edwards have been particularly notable within the last month.

Russell is not known as a stopper, but Los Angeles coach Ty Lue has squeezed some talent out of defensive lemons in the past, most notably Jackson. Russell has shown some playmaking instincts, particularly when he’s given leash to roam around and play free safety (something he hasn’t been able to do this year with Rudy Gobert in Minnesota).

D’Angelo also has a long history of performing well in the clutch (and he’s shooting 47 percent in crunch time this season), something the Clippers have struggled with for much of the year.

DLo wouldn’t be a perfect fit next to Kawhi and Paul George, but he would still be a significant upgrade.

Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors

On paper, VanVleet is close to perfect for the Clippers — but he might be too expensive to obtain.

Despite a down year, VanVleet is still an excellent catch-and-shoot marksman used to playing off the ball. His efficiency should increase on the Clippers, where he wouldn’t have to shoulder nearly as much of a creative burden. His point-of-attack defense and dogged playstyle make him a tailor-made Ty Lue player. Furthermore, he’s already played with — and succeeded next to — Kawhi Leonard.

It’s hard to imagine a better fit than VanVleet, but other teams are also in hot pursuit. The Clippers can only trade one first-round pick (in ’28 or ’29), and they are reportedly reluctant to include Terance Mann in a swap, their best young trade asset. It’s likely other teams will be able to outbid Los Angeles.

Kyle Lowry, Miami Heat

Lowry famously rode shotgun with Kawhi (and VanVleet) during the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 title run, and Leonard has expressed interest in bringing him to SoCal.

Lowry is a stout, strong defender who loves nothing more than a good hit-ahead pass to streaking teammates. He’s been a reliable shooter throughout his career who tends to save his best play for high-leverage moments …

… in theory. In practice, Lowry has looked like a shell of himself this season. He’s been inattentive defensively and has looked too slow to guard even average point guards. His passing is still a strength, but he isn’t an aggressive shooter off the catch and only shoots 33.5 percent in those situations, anyway.

Lowry is about to turn 37 years old, so a spring renaissance is unlikely. At this point, it’s hard to see him as an improvement over even the mediocre Jackson.

Mike Conley Jr., Utah Jazz

Conley may be the answer. At 35 years old, he’s no spring chicken himself, but he’s arguably been Utah’s second-best player this season. He’s nailed 43 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, and he’s averaging nearly eight assists per game.

Conley has been a quiet but respected leader throughout his career (he’s never even received a technical foul!). He’ll never leave a teammate hanging their head because of a missed pass, and he doesn’t commit costly turnovers down the stretch. While his scoring upside is limited, the Clippers are banking on their two star wings to bear the brunt of the bucket-getting. Instead, Los Angeles needs someone to help get players into the right positions at the right time, a true floor general. Conley perfectly fits the bill.

Junior doesn’t have the ceiling of D’Angelo Russell, but he’s a far steadier hand at the helm, knowing exactly how to tiptoe the line between setting up teammates and initiating offense on his own. He’s not a lockdown defender anymore, but he’s at least as good as Jackson and far more aware off-the-ball.

Just as importantly, Conley should be significantly cheaper to acquire than Fred VanVleet and Russell. The Clippers are also looking to upgrade their frontcourt, so they may prefer to add two solid rotation players instead of one star.

The Clippers have been linked to many point guards over the last few years, so there is no guarantee they will move at all. But in a Western Conference without a clear juggernaut (sorry, Denver), and with a healthy roster for the first time in years, the timing has never been better. This is the Clippers’ best shot at winning the West since they paired Kawhi with Paul George; not upgrading the point position would be malpractice.

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