The Los Angeles Clippers are once again on the clock, needing to make a roster move. Will the Clippers make a trade before the February 5 trade deadline?
Clippers Slated To Make A Couple of Upcoming Roster Moves
Los Angeles has completely turned around its season. A little over a month ago, the Clippers were on pace to win fewer than 20 games for just the ninth time in franchise 56-year history. Now, the Clippers are 10th in the Western Conference at 22-24, having won 16 of their last 19. The Clippers are three games clear of 11th place, though they project to be a Play-In team as they are six games behind sixth-seeded Minnesota.
The Clippers have been entirely different during this 19-game stretch, improving on both ends of the floor. While the Clippers have steadied and offensively enhanced and are currently playing their best on that end in January, they have really ratcheted up their defensive effort. Over the last 19 games, the Clippers rank third in offensive rating (120) and sixth in defensive rating (111.0).
Kawhi Leonard has been the catalyst for the Clippers, averaging 31.1 points on 50.6% shooting from the field. But more importantly, the Clippers have been healthy. Leonard has only missed three games, though Derrick Jones Jr. (knee) has been out since January 4, and Bogdan Bogdanovic (hamstring) has not played since December 26. However, there is good news about the progress of Jones and Bogdanovic’s injuries.
Both Jones and Bogdanovic were assigned to the Clippers’ G League team in San Diego yesterday. Both players could be available when the Clippers return home next week against Philadelphia on February 2.
Even when Bogdanovic and Jones do return, the Clippers will be shorthanded with Bradley Beal and Chris Paul remaining sidelined. Thus, the Clippers are left with 15 healthy players, including three on two-way contracts, after Patrick Baldwin’s 10-day contract expired.
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