If the LA Clippers are serious about adding a quality playmaker this offseason, free agency may not be the place to look.
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00:00 The L.A. Clippers will be among teams looking to make significant upgrades this offseason
00:04 following their early exit from this year's playoffs.
00:07 There are a few areas the team needs to prioritize and address, mainly at point guard and center,
00:12 but finding an affordable player that will make a tangible difference is easier said
00:15 than done.
00:17 Finding a backup big will be the easier task of the two, there are plenty of affordable
00:20 options out there.
00:21 Players like New Orleans' Noel, Aaron Baines, Tristan Thompson, they should all be in the
00:25 L.A. Clippers price range would be welcome in addition to the roster, especially if Montrez
00:30 Harrell is playing elsewhere next season.
00:33 Finding a playmaker will be more difficult, there is a shortage of quality guards in the
00:37 market and many of the top tier arm options simply aren't affordable.
00:41 The top of the class is highlighted by Fred VanVleet, De'Aaron Fox, and Goran Dragic.
00:46 VanVleet likely to re-sign with the Prada Raptors and De'Aaron Fox likely to get an
00:49 extension with Sacramento Kings.
00:53 Of those three, Dragic is probably the most realistic target, but his performance at the
00:56 playoffs this year is quite impressive out of L.A.'s range.
00:59 Still Dragic is someone worth looking at, he doesn't offer much on the defensive end
01:03 and at 34 he's no longer at his peak, but his basketball IQ is off the charts, he's
01:07 done some very special things in Miami Heat this postseason as well.
01:10 Then there are players like DJ Augustine and Jeff Teague, both of whom are upgrades of
01:15 Royce Jackson for example and have proven to be reliable playmakers over their 10+ years
01:19 in the NBA, but it's certainly worth wondering if they really moved the needle enough for
01:25 L.A. to commit a portion of its mid-level exception to them this offseason because they
01:29 will be limited in terms of cap space and players they can sign.
01:32 If L.A. is serious about adding a starter quality point rather than a backup one, for
01:36 example, the trade market is the place to be instead.
01:40 The obvious play is finding a way to add someone like Drew Holiday, but L.A. lacks the assets
01:45 to make that happen.
01:48 A package highlighted by Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, and Rodney Magruder works salary
01:52 rise, but it's hard to imagine the Pelicans accepting that unless there's a third team
01:56 involved.
01:57 This is a team that we know is already pretty depleted of trade capital and as far as tradable
02:03 players goes, there's not a lot there.
02:06 There will be options regardless of the route L.A. chooses to take, but the trade market
02:09 could offer more upside overall.
02:12 With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George ending what could be the final year of their partnership
02:15 in LA, the Clippers need to take some risks.