The Clippers are the first team to find themselves trapped in the "trade-picks-to-win" era.

[sfernald]

Really hope they blow it up this summer and start rebuilding. Okc desperately needs some high lottery picks in 2025, 2026 & 2027 too!

[ConSarnit]

Clippers have a strange front office. Players obviously want to play in Los Angeles, but they seem to put minimal effort in their scouting department. The only "young guys" they've developed in years are Ivica Zubac and Amir Coffey. You want overpaid, aging stars? Okay, cool. But you also need to put cheap, young athletic role players around them. I know the G-League team is moving to San Diego, but they need to invest way more into finding cheap replacement players. Bones, Boston Jr., Kobe Brown, Diabate, all look like they need tons more work just to be playable.

These near second apron teams should be heavily invested in their G-League teams (and two-ways) to find talent. No excuse, considering they have the money to spend obviously.

I’m pretty sure that Ballmer said that draft picks are over-valued so that doesn’t bode well for the Clippers trying to improve around the margins.

If you’re an LA team how are you not trying to poach someone like Presti? Imagine owning a team in LA that hits on draft picks, can develop players AND have the pick of the litter when it comes to premier free agents. Instead they hire Rob Pelinka or they trade away every draft pick they possibly can because the owner doesn’t “value” them. An LA team with a highly competent GM would be a disaster for the rest of the league yet here we are, both LA teams gone home early.

[Chuck Everett]

Teams that went all in (trading multiple first round picks for one player). Where are they now?

Still in playoffs:
Minnesota - Gobert (Most people would give Anthony Edwards credit for that.)
Cleveland - Mitchell (Game 7, one game could change it all.)

Out of playoffs:
Milwaukee - Jrue (Won title. Traded Jrue for Dame)
Atlanta - Murray
Brooklyn - Harden
Chicago - Vucevic
LA Clippers - George, Harden
Phoenix - Durant, Beal
Memphis - Smart (Whole team injured)

This is why teams like Houston should just stay the course, instead of trading away young players and picks for the likes of old Kevin Durant.

Same with San Antonio and Orlando.

[Clemenza]

They're pick swaps but we do have our 1st rounders in '25,' 27, and '29. We would have to fall off a cliff and turn into a lottery team for OKC to truly benefit off those picks.

[Mister Ze]

It’s crazy that Kawhi and his camp wanted PG acquired instead of just keeping SGA whose better than both this season.

[C3H6N6O6]

I think Mavs would have still won in a close 7 game series even if Kawhi was healthy.

I would rather have a constant 20 point scorer rather than current Harden who can't be relied on in every game.

[homecourtloss]

[SportsGuru08]

Like the Rams, they said "F*** them picks!" in the hopes of winning a ring. Unlike the Rams though, it didn't pay off. And now they're about to enter the "Pay the piper" stage.

[anatomicbomb]

Like the Rams, they said "F*** them picks!" in the hopes of winning a ring. Unlike the Rams though, it didn't pay off. And now they're about to enter the "Pay the piper" stage.

LA Coupon Clippers

[bwgood77]

The Suns adopted their blueprint a little over a year ago. Every first that they don't have is triple swapped. They are already talking about trading 2024 and 2031 picks when eligible. I don't think they have any seconds for a long time.

[lonzo_pelota]

Really thought the clippers were gonna overcome the hurdle this year.

[Devilanche]

On their way to the same paychecks next 3 season hopefully.

[SleepingDragon]

It’s crazy that Kawhi and his camp wanted PG acquired instead of just keeping SGA whose better than both this season.

Kawhi is not a talent evaluator.

[symbiotic]

I hope the Knicks don't ever do anything this stupid again.

[brutalitops]

Is OP (Please Use More Appropriate Word)? Do you know of the Brooklyn nets?

[magee]

Clippers aren't re-signing James Harden.

[Dadouv47]

I know it was unlikely but they were one healthy postseason of maybe winning a title. Didn't pay off but the narrative would have been totally different if it worked. The lakers era with Lebron and the AD trade is a "success" because of one title but overall they had a worse team than the clippers and it's not even close.

[UglyBugBall]

How are they 'stuck'? They can easily flip PG, Harden and Kawhi for a ton of assets and rebuild with an insane war chest.

[mtcan]

Clippers aren't re-signing James Harden.

The hell they won't!!! They traded 2 future firsts, a pick swap and 2 seconds for Harden. He getting the MAX!!!!

[og15]

It’s crazy that Kawhi and his camp wanted PG acquired instead of just keeping SGA whose better than both this season.

Kawhi is not a talent evaluator.

And even if he was, if talent evaluators were predicting SGA would be as good as he is now, he wouldn't have gone as low as he did in the draft.