The Los Angeles Clippers have had the worst start to this season imaginable. Unfortunately for them, the organization had a lot of distractions before the year started. The Aspiration scandal really put a damper on things before the Clippers had even played a game.
Kawhi Leonard has been at the center of that scandal, and it has clearly been affecting his play. Leonard has by far the lowest net rating of his career. James Harden has had to carry a wider offensive load than he has in the past because of that.
With the poor start that the Clippers have had, other teams are eyeing them as an organization that could make some changes before the trade deadline.
GettyJames Harden looks to pass the ball. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NBA Insider Believes Teams Are Monitoring James Harden, Kawhi Leonard
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, other teams are waiting to see if the Clippers could be interested in moving either Harden or Leonard.
“Many in the league are waiting to see whether L.A. is open to shifting to the bigger picture. Stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are performing at a high level and are signed to tradeable contracts that would allow the Clippers to retool for the future.”
Keeping both players is still on the table, as well. Charania notes that an executive believes that since they don’t have their first-round pick, they could make trades to better their future.
“One high-ranking executive floated this theory recently: Instead of trying to win every game to prevent Oklahoma City from receiving a top-five pick, could the Clippers make a trade (or trades) to better position themselves for the next five years?”
The Clippers could end up giving a top-five pick to the best team in the NBA. If that happens, other teams would see that as a disaster. Los Angeles has to determine if it wants to start a rebuild now or hold on for the rest of the season.
GettyKawhi Leonard drives the ball. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Clippers Have Been a Disappointment
A year after pushing the Nuggets to seven games in the playoffs, the Clippers have been a massive disappointment. LA has the sixth-worst defense in the league. Offensively, they aren’t much better, owning just the 19th-best offensive team in the NBA.
The Clippers are going to make some big decisions before the trade deadline passes in a couple of months. Leonard’s price around the league would be much lower than what the Clippers would want to give him up for, so he might have to stay in LA.
With the Clippers owing that pick to OKC, they have no incentive to start a massive rebuild this summer. They have to try to turn things around this season. Right now, the Clippers sit 14th in the Western Conference standings, with only the Pelicans being worse.
Other teams will be ready to send offers Los Angeles’ way if things continue to go south. Harden still has value around the league with how strong his offensive game is.
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