The current state of teams at the Staples Center might not be going as well as planned right now. The Los Angeles Lakers are an abysmal 2-14 to start the season, good for second worst record in the NBA and worst in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Clippers are trending in a different way with a 9-8 record but that’s not acceptable considering the team that Deandre Jordan spurned over the summer to remain with the Clippers, the Dallas Mavericks, are currently 10-7.
So with a slow start to the season for the Clippers, it appears that some different moves might have to be made in order to keep the team as a top contender in the Western Conference.
Following from Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio.
Clippers making some exploratory calls, seeing what may be available. Little early for trade chatter but they're not happy. #nba
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) November 30, 2015
If they are making exploratory trade calls now and not making a move, it might mean one of their newly signed players could be on the move. The Clippers can’t make a trade involving Lance Stephenson, Austin Rivers, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith or even Pablo Prigioni until December 15th because they just signed deals before the season started but once that deadline is up, expect someone to get moved.
They don’t have a ton of tradable assets which also includes their lack of draft picks. No one wants a shell of Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith or Paul Pierce and trying to find a trade partner for Austin Rivers, a guy who tries too hard to be like Stephen Curry, would be nearly impossible. Plus, I doubt Doc would want to trade his son.
The fact that they are making calls can be concerning for Clippers fans. The panic button has been hit and it might be time for them to start making moves to try and make what could be the last possible good run for Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin.
It’s now being reported that Jamal Crawford could be the target of Los Angeles’ trade efforts, according to Basketball Insiders Steve Kyler.
The Clippers are not ready to blow things up, but there is a growing sense that the Clippers are willing to make a deal and that move may involve the ending contract of swingman Jamal Crawford.
The Clippers have been up and down all season and have lost five of their last 10 games. Amid reports of infighting in the locker room, it seems the Clippers may be open to a splashy move if one surfaces.
Sources close to the situation continue to say the Clippers are being opportunistic – saying if a solid player becomes available they’d do a deal – however, league sources say the Clippers may be more desperate than they’ll admit, sensing that a major change is needed.
