Grouping the "three older giants", the Clippers and the Suns are expected to trade 1 for 5, and risks and opportunities coexist

The Clippers have far exceeded expectations in terms of both record and performance this season. This is a team considered to be at the bottom of the West at the beginning of the season. In the desperate situation where Leonard was missing for most of the season, they relied on their life-threatening style to win fifth place in the Western Conference. Although in the first round of tiebreak battle, the Clippers lost 101-120 away to the Nuggets and finally missed the 3-4 score, the team's overall performance is also qualified. For the team's management, how to effectively strengthen the offseason is the key.

There are many teams with poor performance this season. They will definitely change the lineup in the offseason, and some players in the team will also be at risk of leaving the team, such as Antetokounmpo of the Bucks, Morant of the Grizzlies, etc. These are the current favorites for leaving the team, and the US media "Fadeaway" The author of World suggests that the Los Angeles Clippers can try 5 for 1 in the offseason, and trade Durant who gets the Suns. Since the Suns' record this season is really hard to satisfy, the team is currently preparing to send Durant and others out, which is a good opportunity for the Clippers. Let's take a look at the specific situation:

Phoenix Suns won: Norman Powell, Derek Jones Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic, 2026 second round draft pick, 2031 first round draft pick

Los Angeles Clippers won: Kevin Durant

For the Clippers, introducing Durant will definitely coexist with risks and opportunities. As the top scorer in the league, Durant's indiscriminate singles and key ball ability can significantly increase the Clippers' offensive limit in the playoffs. This season, he can still average more than 25 points per game and have efficient mid- and long-distance shooting ability. Durant's joining gives the Clippers more choices on the offensive end, such as high pick-and-roll, quick counterattack and multi-point breakthrough, which is especially suitable for Tyron Lu's flexible tactical arrangement. If the Clippers retain Harden and Leonard and form the Big Three with Durant, they will form a system of "Harden organization + Durant/Leonard end" and will inevitably launch an impact on the championship, but the age of the Big Three (Harden 36, Durant 36, Leonard 34) and injury history may limit the effect of long-term cooperation. If any one is injured, the Clippers may still repeat the same mistake, which is a great risk to the team.

For the Suns, the team urgently needs to clean up some of the players in the lineup, including Durant. So what about getting chips in this deal? First of all, Norman Powell has strong defensive ability and accurate outside shooting ability. He is an excellent shooting guard, averaging 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game, with three shooting percentages as high as 48.4%, 41.8%, and 80.4%. Derek Jones Jr. still maintained his characteristics in unball movement and empty cut on the offensive end. He has a very good finishing ability at the basket and can also create certain threats outside the three-point line. He also performed quite well on the defensive end. He was able to use his advantages in physical talent and athleticism to create considerable pressure on his opponents. He averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1 steal per game in 24.3 minutes, with shooting percentages of 52.6%, 35.6%, and 70.3% respectively in the three events. As for Bogdan Bogdanovic, he has good shooting ability, and this deal also received 2 draft picks, which is also conducive to the team to better strengthen the lineup.

Overall, this deal is very good for both teams. If it can be finally reached, please feel free to discuss in the comment section!