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

[Fencer reregistered]

They are likely to sign Harden and PG to significant, long-term contracts this offseason. They can't rebuild because they don't own their own pick till 2030. Trading is unlikely, as it's rare to see high-caliber players exchanged for each other. Therefore, they will secure both players with substantial, extended contracts. Essentially, this will define their team for the foreseeable future, leaving them with no assets in terms of draft picks and young talent. Each year, their situation deteriorates, and their only avenue for improvement is the MLE.


Picks status:
2024 First Round Pick: This pick has been traded to Washington.
2025 First Round Pick: Oklahoma City has the right to swap its 2025 1st round pick for the Clippers' 2025 1st round pick. This means that Oklahoma City might end up taking the Clippers' pick if it is more favorable than the other options they have.
2026 First Round Pick: Oklahoma City will receive one of the more favorable picks between its own, Houston's (protected for selections 1-4), and the Clippers'. Philadelphia will get the least favorable among these. Thus, the Clippers will not keep their 2026 first round pick.
2027 First Round Pick: Oklahoma City has the right to swap its 2027 1st round pick (or Denver's, if conveyed) for the Clippers' 2027 1st round pick. This could result in the Clippers losing their 2027 pick.
2028 First Round Pick: This pick has been traded to Philadelphia.
2029 First Round Pick: Philadelphia has the right to swap its 2029 1st round pick for the Clippers' 2029 1st round pick, which is protected for selections 1-3.

MLE? So they've avoided the second apron?

[Fencer reregistered]

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.

More to the point, he wanted a teammate who could help him right away, then didn't get onto the court himself.

[Fencer reregistered]

These fake super teams trying to copy the heatles never work out. Even the wolves that traded their whole “future” for Gobert I still feel like are organic for drafting Kat and Ant themselves. All the vet products are cursed or something idk

Even the Heatles drafted Wade.

The Celtics drafted Pierce and Rondo (and Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen, Leon Powe ...)

[SFrush]

It's exactly where I'm hoping the warriors don't end up.

[chilluminati]

"we'll never rebuild, we're freaking Los Angeles! Everyone wants to play for us!"

translated to:

"We'll never rebuild, we're freaking Los Angeles! Every aging over the hill superstar making 40M+ wants to play for us!"

This is why The Clippers will never win. This is why a lot of large market teams lose. LA teams really love this formula especially.

[hauntedcomputer]

You can go from having few picks to tons of picks in a matter of weeks if you choose. I don't know why this is always painted as a disaster. Seven years from now is like three generations of the NBA with all the churn.

[sip]

The Clippers have disappointed in the playoffs but in the post-Sterling era they've been one of the best run clubs. Since 2012 only the Warriors have more wins. And even with the post-season drop-off they're still 9th best in post-season wins. They've just been snake bitten by two things: terrible post-season draws and injuries.

The bad luck with post-season draws in under-discussed. In 2015 they won 56 games and opened with a 55 win Spurs team (6 SRS). That is a conference finals calibers club in the first round when you won 56 games. Terrible luck. And the injuries to Paul/Kawhi compound the problem.

Overall I don't see any problem with the Clippers long-term because the combination of good management/LA draw/Ballmer's super deep pockets will make them competitive long-term. Especially given the atrophy we've seen in Lakers' management over the last 15 years.

They have been competitive because Balmer inherited a nice core group of players. His aggressiveness with trying to win though has hamstrung the team with older guys. Things are about to get ugly with the clips if they end up retaining PG and Harden at decent priced numbers.

[HadAnEffectHere]

You can go from having few picks to tons of picks in a matter of weeks if you choose. I don't know why this is always painted as a disaster. Seven years from now is like three generations of the NBA with all the churn.

This is true with basically every team... Except the Clippers.

They have no one with trade value.

[Ssj16]

"First Round Exit Over Championships. L.A Our Way"
"We Put the Loss in Los Angeles. L.A. Our Way"

[hippesthippo]

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

It was Durant and then Butler before settling for PG.

20 other teams would have made the same move back then. But now and nothing to show for it? It’s easy to say it was really dumb.

Leonard, unfortunately, seems to share the same view as the organization about young talent. They don’t want to wait for development. They want the known product.

Not entirely sure how they fix the roster but I know what my first move would be. Fire Lawrence Frank and give a blank check to Bob Meyers. It’s the type of splashy move Ballmer would love going into the new arena.

I disagree, many people at the time said the PG trade was bad. They gave up way too many picks with no/limited restrictions on top of SGA just to acquire Paul George coming off two straight first round exits with OKC. They caved in because they wanted Leonard so I don’t blame them as much as Leonard’s camp who reportedly demanded the Clippers acquire a second star.

Damn near everyone thought it was too much, but

Everyone had a "but," a qualifier, tacked onto the end because they didn't want to look silly in the rare event that both were able to stay healthy and Toronto-Kawhi showed up in the Playoffs to win them a Championship.

I thought it was ridiculous. The picks? Sure. Trading away SGA made zero sense. Even if he didn't improve a single iota from where he was at in his development with LA, that's exactly the type of player you need to surround your aging stars with: cheap, athletic, good defender, capable ball-handler, shot looked decent.

Including SGA was just dumb.

[Warriorfan]

Trading for PG secured Leonard.

[Sixers in 4]

The Clippers have disappointed in the playoffs but in the post-Sterling era they've been one of the best run clubs. Since 2012 only the Warriors have more wins. And even with the post-season drop-off they're still 9th best in post-season wins. They've just been snake bitten by two things: terrible post-season draws and injuries.

The bad luck with post-season draws in under-discussed. In 2015 they won 56 games and opened with a 55 win Spurs team (6 SRS). That is a conference finals calibers club in the first round when you won 56 games. Terrible luck. And the injuries to Paul/Kawhi compound the problem.

Overall I don't see any problem with the Clippers long-term because the combination of good management/LA draw/Ballmer's super deep pockets will make them competitive long-term. Especially given the atrophy we've seen in Lakers' management over the last 15 years.

They have been competitive because Balmer inherited a nice core group of players. His aggressiveness with trying to win though has hamstrung the team with older guys. Things are about to get ugly with the clips if they end up retaining PG and Harden at decent priced numbers.

I think Harden stays because he has no options and George leaves. If George wanted to sign an extension he would have done so already.

[dirkdiggler4177]

They are likely to sign Harden and PG to significant, long-term contracts this offseason. They can't rebuild because they don't own their own pick till 2030. Trading is unlikely, as it's rare to see high-caliber players exchanged for each other. Therefore, they will secure both players with substantial, extended contracts. Essentially, this will define their team for the foreseeable future, leaving them with no assets in terms of draft picks and young talent. Each year, their situation deteriorates, and their only avenue for improvement is the MLE.


Picks status:
2024 First Round Pick: This pick has been traded to Washington.
2025 First Round Pick: Oklahoma City has the right to swap its 2025 1st round pick for the Clippers' 2025 1st round pick. This means that Oklahoma City might end up taking the Clippers' pick if it is more favorable than the other options they have.
2026 First Round Pick: Oklahoma City will receive one of the more favorable picks between its own, Houston's (protected for selections 1-4), and the Clippers'. Philadelphia will get the least favorable among these. Thus, the Clippers will not keep their 2026 first round pick.
2027 First Round Pick: Oklahoma City has the right to swap its 2027 1st round pick (or Denver's, if conveyed) for the Clippers' 2027 1st round pick. This could result in the Clippers losing their 2027 pick.
2028 First Round Pick: This pick has been traded to Philadelphia.
2029 First Round Pick: Philadelphia has the right to swap its 2029 1st round pick for the Clippers' 2029 1st round pick, which is protected for selections 1-3.

MLE? So they've avoided the second apron?

Good point!

[Invictus88]

Responding to the title: Umm Phoenix says hi....?

[Pattycakes]

These fake super teams trying to copy the heatles never work out. Even the wolves that traded their whole “future” for Gobert I still feel like are organic for drafting Kat and Ant themselves. All the vet products are cursed or something idk

Even the Heatles drafted Wade.

The Celtics drafted Pierce and Rondo (and Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen, Leon Powe ...)

I’d be referring to the failed pierce/kg nets or the d12/nash etc iterations.. not necessarily cases where teams actually draft and develop naturally

[Ssj16]

The Clippers have disappointed in the playoffs but in the post-Sterling era they've been one of the best run clubs. Since 2012 only the Warriors have more wins. And even with the post-season drop-off they're still 9th best in post-season wins. They've just been snake bitten by two things: terrible post-season draws and injuries.

The bad luck with post-season draws in under-discussed. In 2015 they won 56 games and opened with a 55 win Spurs team (6 SRS). That is a conference finals calibers club in the first round when you won 56 games. Terrible luck. And the injuries to Paul/Kawhi compound the problem.

Overall I don't see any problem with the Clippers long-term because the combination of good management/LA draw/Ballmer's super deep pockets will make them competitive long-term. Especially given the atrophy we've seen in Lakers' management over the last 15 years.

They have been competitive because Balmer inherited a nice core group of players. His aggressiveness with trying to win though has hamstrung the team with older guys. Things are about to get ugly with the clips if they end up retaining PG and Harden at decent priced numbers.

I think Harden stays because he has no options and George leaves. If George wanted to sign an extension he would have done so already.

If Clippers end up with just Kawhi and Harden, I would laugh so hard.

[OkcSinceSGA]

You can go from having few picks to tons of picks in a matter of weeks if you choose. I don't know why this is always painted as a disaster. Seven years from now is like three generations of the NBA with all the churn.

Yep. People here don’t realize even this own team did it in 2017 and 2018 with the Blake and CP3 trades. They don’t realize that average role players like PJ Washington and Gafford got 1st round picks last year. I have no doubt Zubac, Mann, Bones, Powell, Boston Jr etc can get you a few picks. Kawhi even if they go full Nuke.

[Mister Ze]

Trading for PG secured Leonard.