Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have dealt with a litany of injuries since they joined L.A. in 2019, but they’re “fully healthy” and ready to go for training camp, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank told reporters, including Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN (Twitter link).
The news was expected, as Frank was mostly just confirming what head coach Tyronn Lue said on a podcast a few weeks ago.
Frank also said the Clippers have talked to both players about possible contract extensions, according to Youngmisuk (Twitter link). Frank described it as a “process,” but the team hopes to continue to build around Leonard and George.
Here’s more on the Clippers:
- At the same press conference, Frank said that while he likes the roster he’s assembled, the Clippers won’t hesitate to be aggressive in looking for upgrades if the opportunity arises, according to Janis Carr of The Orange County Register (subscriber link). “We like our team,” Frank said. “(But) you are always looking for ways to get better, both individually and as a team. Typically, if you follow the probability, the greatest way to get better is internal improvement. But from our standpoint, we’ll always be aggressive in trying to find ways to improve the team. I like our approach, but we’ll always look for ways to get better.”
- The Clippers have been linked to All-Star guard Jrue Holiday, who is from the Los Angeles area. Law Murray of The Athletic makes the case that Holiday would be a better fit for the Clips than disgruntled star James Harden, noting that Holiday is a far superior defender. Holiday’s contract also aligns with Leonard’s and George’s, Murray adds, with all three players holding player options for 2024/25. Harden, meanwhile, is on an expiring deal and is not extension-eligible, but Holiday will be later this season.
- Point guard Jason Preston‘s non-guaranteed salary becomes guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before this Sunday. Frank said the team is still weighing its options and the decision will likely come down to the wire, tweets Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times.
Portland gets Tobias Harris, Jaden Springer, Amir Coffey 1 or 2 picks
Clippers get James Harden, Korkmaz, a lesser pick
Philly gets Holiday, Marcus Morris, Norman Powell, and Bones Hyland
Why would Portland do that? Why would LA do that? Brain damage?
Portland retains the expiring contract, gets another young guard that fits, gets a 3 and D wing that fits and gets 1 or 2 picks…I could also see Harris fitting around certain pieces they have/helping certain others they have, and then maybe could be used later on in the season for another deal, as an expiring, plus as a potential half court scorer for someone at the 4
I agree the Clippers shouldn’t do it, but the Harden stuff is still going on, and they’re still being talked about, so there is some traction to it…I would say they have multiple other options at the 4/smallvall 5 to replace Morris, and have enough wing depth to move Coffey, and Powell and Hyland become redundant with the rest of what they have, plus Harden. Korkmaz gives them either a potential shooter around their playmakers/defenders or a salary to potentially move/is also expiring
I think this is a good trade idea. Portland can trade Harris somewhere else. I think Portland would want Kobe Brown or Brandon Boston too. Portland needs a young SF
Honestly, I’d play Sharpe at the 3. Him, Scoot, and Simons won’t necessarily win a lot of games, but Portland doesn’t want that right now, and it will give them the best amount of seasoning available. Plus, Sharpe is big enough (6’6″ with a near 7′ wingspan and very high athleticism) to handle the 3 just as is.
I like most of the proposed deal, but Harris is kind of an immovable block of a contract tbh. Especially for Portland, in this hypothetical. He just makes so much money without the production to match, but he’s too good to come off the bench or sit. Even with only one year left, they might just have to buy him out. Maybe the Hornets could flip Hayward and a protected first for Harris? Having Hayward come off the bench behind Sharpe/Simons/Grant still allows him to be positive when he can play, without the conundrum of a player who wants to contend. And Harris is an upgrade for Charlotte, who look like they intend on winning, without the future salary commitment a bigger move might cause
I would play Sharpe at SG and draft SF Holland next year. I would trade Simons and Grant when possible for a young SF and PF (Houston’s Smith jr) Or keep Simons since he is the same age as Ayton (then like you said play Sharpe at SF)
Unless Jabari faceplants, I don’t think Houston trades him. Unless Tari Eason takes a massive leap and becomes a borderline superstar, Jabari isn’t even being made available for trade imo. He’s only in his second season this coming season and looked much better down the stretch after he actually got used to the NBA pace and space game.
Portland can afford to toy around with stuff this year, because their only stakes are the lottery. Nothing has to be a permanent commitment except Scoot. If they draft a guy who overlaps with a current player, they can re-evaluate then. It’s a good problem to have.
I only say Smith jr because I think he’s the best young PF out there. I like him
Obviously, play Sharpe at the 3…didn’t think it was contentious to put him anywhere else. If they could have traded Simons, Lillard would still be there, but I did think they maybe could have rexplored moving him after his first couple of months off the bench, had they waited with Lillard. Still think Orlando is probably the only fit for him right now, even though they already got rid of a couple of the throw in pieces I had originally thought of a couple of months ago
I don’t see the fit of Harris in Charlotte at all, especially for Heyward. Charlotte already has multiple 4s
I was referring to Luke, who wanted to play him off the bench or at the 2. I agree with you, tbh.
Harris is more of a 3 than a 4, really. He’s just kind of pidgeonholed into that role in Philly, but he’ll slide over there to let Tucker play the 4. And they need a veteran who can actually help them win, as opposed to a guy who is only a mentor. Let Miller play the 2 and play Rozier as the sixth man, Rozier’s defense is just too bad to start, especially next to LaMelo, who isn’t the greatest defender in spite of his size. Alternately, they can play Miller off the bench the way Indiana did with Mathurin last season.
Gordon Heyward is still really good, when healthy, so I’m not sure I understand what you mean there, but I would have probably expected Miller off the bench anyway. Bridges starts at the 4, and probably PJ Washington at smallball 5
I disagree on Harris not being a 4. Their issue in Philly last year is they had no wings, and multiple people playing out of position.
It’s not that he’s *not* a 4, he can just play both forward spots equally well.
“when healthy” is the caveat here. Health is a problem for Charlotte’s entire roster, and something they need to either work around with greater (quality) depth, or by trading for a less injury-prone guy. And sure Hayward is still good. But Harris can do everything he can, at an equal or higher level, but without the health risk. Harris is simply a slightly better, more available player who they can get for relatively cheap.
Also, they should be playing Mark Williams at the 5. PJ is a good player, but Williams is the future for that team. He’s honestly good already, but when he hits his stride, the pick-and-roll with him and LaMelo will be something to watch. He’s also the defensive anchor Charlotte has needed for years.
Read my comment. I didn’t say to bring him off the bench. I said start him at the SG while trading Simons, if they keep Simons then start Sharpe at SF
They get Coffey in the deal, and he plays on the wing. The Clippers giving up 1 of those extra young guys becomes way too much at that point, and Coffey is a good player, signed a couple of more years cheaply, and fits
Harden is a pest. Houston managed to fool the Nets. The Nets were lucky that Philly needed to get rid of an even bigger headache in Simmons. But this third time, no one is going to fall for it. Philly will need to reengage Harden or basically give him away.
Preston is probably sitting there so nervous. Imagine waiting there, past midnight and I’ll get this money or cut before I will not get this money and will be cut off the team. NBA needs to fix this
Kawhi and PG are always healthy to begin the season. That’s never been the issue.
POR can hold Holiday into the season, without reducing his trade value and likely increasing it. The salary might be a hard match, but his 2 way, multi-position game, and team first attitude, will fit anywhere.
LAC should try and usurp that with a strong offer now. Mann (with expirings) and 2 FRPs would look good alongside what POR got in the MIL-PHX trade.
Philly needs to be patient. October 5th.
KPJ, Jeff Green, Tate, FRP, 3 SRP. Rockets get Harden.
Then on October 16th, Sixers flip 3 SRP, Furkan, Montrezl, Springer, and PJ Tucker for Tyus Jones and Gallo.
Sixers end up with…
PG- Tyus Jones/Melton
SG- Maxey/Bev/House
SF- Tsunami/Tate/Gallo
PF- Harris/Green/FillerUp
C- Troell/Bball/Bamba
Recoup a 1st, clear PJ and Springer’s 24 salary.
Only salary on the books next year is Troell and Maxey’s cap hold. And Bball is TBD. So like 74Mish committed. Reshape the entire roster around Troell.
Jarue IA going nowhere before the trade deadline.