After losing All-Star wing Paul George and former MVP Russell Westbrook in the offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers need to get better quick. The front office can do just that by pursuing Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns in a wild trade proposal.
Last season was a pivotal one for the Los Angeles Clippers. They kicked off the year by acquiring 10-time NBA All-Star and 2018 MVP James Harden in a blockbuster trade, reuniting him with former teammate Westbrook. This superstar-laden roster, which also included Kawhi Leonard and George, set a new aggregate All-Star milestone with 32 appearances between the four players.
However, the team faced early adversity, suffering six consecutive losses after a promising 3-1 start. They eventually righted the ship, going on an impressive nine-game winning streak starting in December. The Clippers emerged as a formidable force in the West, securing their second straight playoff berth and their first division title since 2014. They also reached the 50-win milestone for the first time since 2016.
Despite their regular season success, the Clippers suffered another disappointing playoff exit, falling to the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving-led Dallas Mavericks in six games. The Mavericks would go on to reach the NBA Finals, ultimately falling to the Boston Celtics. As the Clippers prepare to move into their new Intuit Dome next season, they will look to build on this campaign and finally capture the elusive championship that has eluded them for so long.
Los Angeles Clippers Receive Karl-Anthony Towns in Wild Trade Proposal
The Clippers may get to compete next season if they acquire Towns from Minnesota, as seen in a proposed three-team deal by Bleacher Report. In it, Los Angeles gets the All-Star big man, the Timberwolves receive Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Terance Mann, and a second-round pick, while the Brooklyn Nets acquire Norman Powell, Kobe Brown, Bones Hyland, PJ Tucker, and two draft picks.
“The Clippers are in real danger of missing the Western Conference playoffs next season and should be in pursuit of a third star to pair with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Towns, 28, is a four-time All-Star who would bring a different offensive dimension to Los Angeles with his floor-spacing ability. He could play alongside Ivica Zubac in the starting lineup, or head coach Tyronn Lue could go wing-heavy with Towns at center and either Nicolas Batum or Derrick Jones Jr. in the opening five. Either way, acquiring Towns should keep the Clippers in the top six in the West.”
The proposed trade will bring back the talent lost when George and Russell walked away from the Clippers. It also adds another reliable shot creator to play with Harden and Leonard, especially when it comes to the frontcourt as he averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists last season.
It remains to be seen whether the proposed trade will happen or not. If it does, expect the Clippers to become better than expected after losing key pieces to free agency during the past few weeks.
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