During the 2019-20 season, the LA Clippers gave away 6 first-round picks and mortgaged their future. But it didn’t help them win the 2020 NBA title, and now they are desperate to bring in young talent.
According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, they are ready to give up Lou Williams in a trade to obtain the 18th pick from the Mavericks.
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Givony said, “Several teams are exploring making a trade with the Mavs involving this pick, with the Clippers and Lou Williams being a popular choice around the league as a potential trade partner.”
The Clippers traded for Williams back in 2017, and he had his best career performances in these 3 seasons. He won Sixth Man of the Year twice in his 3 seasons at LA and has been an amazing scorer. So it is certainly an unexpected rumor.
Surprise move for the LA Clippers?
The Clippers are all set to lose Montrezl Harrell to Free Agency already. Williams and Harrell had an excellent partnership off the bench and were vital to their success; therefore, it is very surprising that the Clippers are letting go of both of them together.
Another element in question is the value for Williams. Despite being 33 now, he doesn’t seem like he’s going to stop anytime soon. He has been scoring with ease and has been clutch in many games too. So giving him up for a pick that is outside the lottery would undervalue him.
Finally, the Clippers are in a tight cap situation. Williams’ cheap $8 million contract was perfect for them. They aren’t going to get any players of similar caliber with the pick or in Free Agency for that price range.
Can Williams help Mavericks?
While there is no doubt that Williams can help with scoring, the Mavs offense was already good. Statistically, it was the best offense in NBA history, beating the likes of Stephen Curry’s Warriors and Michael Jordan’s Bulls.
The Mavericks need help on defense, and a solid big man to pair alongside Kristaps Porzingis is the need of the hour. If the Mavericks can use Williams to obtain a good center, it will take them one step closer to contending for the title.
