The Clippers had one trade fall through already, but more trades are assuredly on the way. Some of Clippers’ fans favorite trade ideas didn’t come to fruition with the draft passing, but there’s still plenty of time to make deals. With that said, here are ten trade ideas for the Clippers in the 2023 NBA offseason spanning massive shakeups to minor deals.
Paul George Trades
Trade 1
Clippers Trade: Paul George
Blazers Trade: Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, 2027 1st round pick, 2028 1st round pick swap, second round picks
Clippers’ Reasoning: This is a step back in top-end talent for the Clippers, but is a move to get younger and shake things up in a major way. Simons is just 24, is under contract at a reasonable cost for three more years, and is an incredibly dynamic shooter who can make up for a lot of Paul George’s offense. He’s not as well-rounded as a scorer or as good a playmaker, but he’s also steadily improved over his five years in the league and is still young enough to make further improvements to his game. Nassir Little has had a lot of injury issues in his career, and has not been much better than “replacement level” for the Blazers, but is just 23 years old and is on an extremely team-friendly deal for the next four years, giving the Clippers a young option to develop at power forward. This move would keep the Clippers as a contender-level team while giving them much greater flexibility and potential and replenishing their pick stock.
Blazers’ Reasoning: Paul George is a major upgrade over Anfernee Simons, but more importantly, he’s an infinitely better fit next to Damian Lillard. If the Blazers are serious about building around Dame, this trade puts them closer to the “contender” tier than they are now, even if they’d still have moves to make to really get in that conversation. With Scoot and Shaedon Sharpe around as hopefully building blocks for the long-term, the risk of losing picks in 2027 and 2028 is somewhat diminished.
Trade 2
Clippers Send: Paul George
Sixers Send: Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris
Clippers’ Reasoning: Maxey is young (turns 23 in November), an incredible shooter, a dynamic ball-handler who can get to the rim at will, and a fun and energetic personality who enlivens his teammates. He’s exactly what the Clippers have been missing, and while he’d be a fantastic fit next to George and Kawhi, it seems impossible the Clippers could get him without moving PG. The Clippers would get younger and more athletic in a flash while filling their long-term hole at point. Tobias Harris is hugely overpaid, but in the last year of his deal, and is a major upgrade over the Clippers’ power forwards. A Maxey-Mann-Kawhi-Harris-Zu lineup is still extremely good now and better positioned for the future.
Sixers’ Reasoning: If the Sixers bring back James Harden, as it seems like they will, they’ll be completely tethered to his timeline as a declining 34-year-old as well as Joel Embiid’s as a perennially injured 29-year-old. Paul George is a fantastic on-court fit, providing a much better pairing with Harden than Maxey due to his size and defensive capabilities as well as comfort playing off-ball. He’s older and injury-prone, but George alongside Harden and Embiid would probably make the Sixers Eastern Conference favorites if healthy.
Other Major Trades
Trade 3
Clippers Trade: Marcus Morris, Eric Gordon, Brandon Boston, 1st round pick swap in 2027, 1st round Pick Swap in 2029, top-5 protected 1st Round Pick in 2028, and some 2nd round picks
Bulls Trade: Zach LaVine
Clippers’ Reasoning: This is more or less an all-in move for the next year or two, clearing the Clippers of most of their remaining pick assets to put a true 3rd star next to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. LaVine is not the cleanest fit, as he’s another guy better suited to be a play finisher than playmaker, but he does add creation, athleticism, and incredible shooting. He’d be far and away the best player 213 has been alongside in Los Angeles, is just 28, and is under contract for three more years (PO in 2026) to help take more of the load as PG and Kawhi age. This would rocket the Clippers back into the true championship tier contention, giving them a similar Big 3 to the Suns but with much better depth, and giving them at least a shot against the Nuggets.
Bulls’ Reasoning: This era of Bulls’ rejuvenation is more or less dead on arrival. DeMar DeRozan is still awesome but aging, Nik Vucevic is almost 33 and the Bulls would have to pay him significant money to keep him going forward, and Lonzo Ball might never play again. None of their young guys look like anything more than role players. Trading LaVine would jump start their rebuild with a load of picks, clear the books beyond next summer, and provide an interesting prospect in Boston. The Bulls could possibly get a bigger return for LaVine, but those $178M over the next four years for an All-Star, non All-NBA player with injury issues will dampen his value considerably.
Trade 4
Clippers Send: Ivica Zubac, Nic Batum, Eric Gordon, 2027 Pick Swap, 2028 1st Round Pick, 2029 Pick Swap, 2nd round picks
Timberwolves Send: Karl-Anthony Towns
Clippers’ Reasoning: For all of his flaws, KAT is a true star-level player, a walking 20 and 10 on good efficiency while providing exceptional spacing as a big man. He’d be a fantastic fit on the court next to Kawhi and PG, helping alleviate some shot creation due to his abilities in the post while also stretching the floor for them to open up drives to the rim. While turnover-prone, he’s a capable passer and playmaker as well who could really help to juice the Clippers’ offense in numerous ways. He’s a defensive step down from Zubac, but is at least a very good rebounder and should be hidden at least a bit by the Clippers’ perimeter defense.
Wolves’ Reasoning: Towns is starting an absolutely insane 5 year, $255M deal. Not only is that an overpay for a 3rd-Team All-NBA level player, but his fit in year one with Rudy Gobert did not look good. KAT is better and younger than Gobert, but Gobert is thoroughly untradable due to his age, declining play, and own monstrous deal. This move would clear off future salary, replenish the Wolves’ pick situation to some extent, give them the best backup center in the league in Zubac, and provide a couple solid floor-spacing veterans for Gobert and Anthony Edwards next season.
The Center Upgrades
Trade 5
Clippers Send: Ivica Zubac, Nic Batum, Brandon Boston Jr., 1st round swap 2027, multiple 2nd round picks
Cavaliers Send: Jarrett Allen
Clippers’ Reasoning: Allen is essentially just a better version of Zubac. He’s a superior finisher around the rim, a stronger defender, and a more dominant rebounder. Allen wouldn’t add new dimensions to the Clippers, but he would boost the defense and vertical threat on offense, which are two things the Clippers could really use. HE’s also on an incredible contract paying just $20M a season for the next three years. If anything, the Clippers might have to include some other assets to get him, and barring anything crazy, like multiple unprotected 1st round picks, I’d probably add a bit more if needed.
Cavs’ Reasoning: While Allen is awesome, the Cavs probably need to reallocate their resources a bit to other positions, especially as Evan Mobley grows into more of a center. Ivica Zubac can do 85% of what Allen does for less cost and with an easier shift to a bench role if Mobley is ready for the starting center role. Batum is the connective wing and deadeye shooter they’ve needed at the wing. Boston is another bet on a young wing to hopefully grow into a long-term piece for them. And then there are picks to help replenish the stock diminished by the Donovan Mitchell trade.
Trade 6
Clippers Send: Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey
Suns Send: De’Andre Ayton
Clippers’ Reasoning: For as frustrating as Ayton can be in terms of effort and the lack of physical dominance for a guy with his build and athleticism, he’s still a more productive player than Ivica Zubac. Ayton is a walking 18 and 10 without even being a focal point on offense, and he’s someone the Clippers could feed on offense to take the burden off of Kawhi and PG. Ayton is also just 25 and could still improve, especially in a different environment. His upside is simply much, much higher than Zubac’s, and he’s younger to boot. His contract is big, but he’s a good to very good player with still outside potential for greatness. It’s a clear talent upgrade, which the Clippers desperately need.
Suns’ Reasoning: The Suns have publicly had issues with Ayton’s effort for a while, and even though the team will look very different this season, it seems like he’s still someone they don’t really trust. More importantly, the Suns have massive depth issues, with really nobody around their Big 3 outside of Ayton and maybe Cam Payne. For as bad as Marcus Morris and Amir Coffey were last year, they’re still better than a lot of the options the Suns might get on the minimum, and do fit around the Suns’ stars as a floor-spacing forward and high-energy wing respectively. Zubac, of course, is the Ayton replacement, and a much steadier and more consistent option who will help keep the Suns’ defense at a respectable level. The Suns might want Nic Batum or Robert Covington instead of Morris, and I’d probably still do that deal.
Smaller Trades
Trade 7
Clippers Send: Eric Gordon, Draft Assets (multiple seconds or a future highly protected 1st)
Hawks Send: De’Andre Hunter
Clippers’ Reasoning: The Clippers have wanted to get younger and bigger on the wing, and De’Andre Hunter accomplishes both goals. HE’s older than you’d think for a 2019 draftee, as he turns 26 in December, but that’s still younger than every Clippers’ rotation player from last year but Bones Hyland. At 6’8, he adds legitimate size on the wing, even if he doesn’t leverage that size much as a rebounder. He’s a decent three-point shooter and midrange shot taker who’s fine-ish defensively but doesn’t add playmaking. His 4 year, $90M contract kicks in this offseason, and he hasn’t been anywhere near that good so far, but there’s still time for him to put things together, especially on a new team.
Hawks’ Reasoning: Hunter has been a major disappointment as the 4th overall pick. The Hawks are a perpetually cap-conscious team, and have a real desire to move off Hunter’s long-term money, even if they just inked that extension less than a year ago. AJ Griffin’s promising rookie season and the acquisition of Saddiq Bey also means they have plenty of other youth and options on the wing who will be cheaper than Hunter going forward. Eric Gordon is still a helpful veteran who could provide guard depth for the win-now Hawks or could be flipped in future deals as an expiring, while the picks would help grease such a deal as well.
Side Note: This same exact trade could be done for John Collins as well, and I’d like that one even more, but Collins is better than Hunter and has one less year on his deal so I’m unsure of how much it might cost to get him compared to Hunter.
Trade 8
Clippers Trade: Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey, Brandon Boston Jr., future 2nd round pick
Wizards Trade: Monte Morris, Mike Muscala
Clippers’ Reasoning: The Clippers have been seeking a point guard to put next to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for four years. Monte Morris is a guy who should fit quite well – he can play off-ball and shoot threes, but is a very capable ballhandler and playmaker who can run an offense. Most importantly, he doesn’t make mistakes, and is one of the very best players in the entire NBA at not turning the ball over. Mike Muscala is a veteran big man who has been a positive impact player for years, and adds a stretch element to the Clippers’ center rotation.
Wizards’ Reasoning: The Wizards don’t have much of a need for Morris with Tyus Jones, who is a slightly better version of Morris, especially with Delon Wright also on the roster. Mike Muscala is a rotation big man who they have no need for either. Doing those guys a solid and moving them to a contender in exchange for a cost-controlled younger wing in Amir Coffey and a talented prospect in Boston along with any minor assets needed (cash, 2nd round picks, etc) is a fair exchange.
Trade 9
Clippers Send: Eric Gordon
Hornets Send: Terry Rozier
Clippers’ Reasoning: Terry Rozier fits a lot of what the Clippers have been looking for at point guard. He’s an excellent three-point shooter on high-volume, someone who can play off-ball and space the floor for PG and Kawhi. He also possesses an ability to create his own shot, though he’s not great at rim pressure. And, while he’s not an amazing playmaker, he’s a capable ball-handler and passer who doesn’t turn the ball over much. His defense has slipped over the years, but he’s someone who is capable of playing solid defense as well when locked in. His contract is bad and long, but the Clippers could use someone with his skillset.
Hornets’ Reasoning: Rozier is signed for three more years at significant money and is on a different timeline than the rebuilding Hornets. The Hornets get off his salary and receive a veteran in Gordon who can perform a similar role in the short term before being moved again later in the season for assets as an expiring.
Trade 10
Clippers Send: Amir Coffey, Brandon Boston Jr., Future 2nd Round Picks
Knicks Send: Obi Toppin
Clippers’ Reasoning: While Obi Toppin has never been a big-minute player for the Knicks, he’s consistently made a positive impact. And, in fact, his lack of minutes has led to some unhappiness with his role, which should make him available this summer. Toppin is not nearly as good a three-point hooter as the Clippers’ current power forwards, but he adds vertical athleticism and sheer size in the frontcourt that the Clippers need. He’s also just 25 and is someone the Clippers could presumably re-sign to a cost-controlled deall for the rest of his prime if he had a good season.
Knicks’ Reasoning: Toppin is apparently not happy with his role, and considering how many big men the Knicks have, there really isn’t much room for him to expand his role. This isn’t a great return for a former top-10 pick, but Toppin has not produced at that level, and the Knicks get a solid depth piece on the wing, a young prospect in Boston, and other assets that they could use for a bigger move.
