The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Jackson, Kennard, Wall dealt away on busy day
The Clippers improved their frontcourt and added depth to the backcourt through several moves in the final hour before Thursday’s trade deadline, per published reports. But they didn’t solve their starting point guard situation. Not yet anyway.
The Clippers’ day started by acquiring Denver Nuggets point guard Bones Hyland, a young talent who is expected to compete for a backup role, for two future (2024, 2025) draft picks. That was followed by the news that the team got veteran guard Eric Gordon in a three-team deal that sent guards John Wall back to Houston and Luke Kennard to Memphis.
The team then traded Reggie Jackson, a popular fixture in the locker room and with fans, and a 2028 draft pick to Charlotte for 7-foot center Mason Plumlee. Jackson’s contract expires after the season and the Hornets are expected to buy him out.
But were they done? Rumors persisted throughout the day that Russell Westbrook could be waived by Utah and land with the Clippers or the Chicago Bulls once he’s a free agent. Westbrook was traded to the Jazz from the Lakers in a three-team trade and remained there after the deadline passed.
ESPN, though, reported that Clippers guard Paul George was recruiting
Westbrook, which would give the team a solid yet problematic point guard. Westbrook had prickly relationships within the Lakers locker room and recent trade talks seem to bother him.
In the meantime, the Clippers will be looking to reset their bench. Plumlee fills their biggest need as a backup to center Ivica Zubac. Without another big man to share the load, Zubac’s production has slipped recently. He has been averaging nearly 30 minutes a game.
“He (Zubac) has done a good job for us and we got to be careful not run him into the ground,” coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday. “I know I have a little bit. He’s huge for us, on both sides of the basketball because we actually can run the offense with him on the floor.
“And then defensively, just him being a rim protector, being a challenge at the rim has been good for us as well . ... I know he is banged up a little bit, but he always wants to play and so just getting through these three games and hopefully he’s able to get some rest.”
Plumlee, a 10-year veteran, is enjoying a career year with 12.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game as a starter for the Hornets. The 32-year-old center has proven to be a strong finisher and rim protector as well as a playmaker.
Hyland, a second-year player, gives the Clippers a shot of youth off their bench. He is averaging 12.1 points and 3.0 assists and consistently shoots from beyond 30 feet. Hyland dropped out of the rotation after reported tension with Hornets’ coaching staff over playing time.
In Gordon, the Clippers get a familiar face. Gordon played his first three seasons in Los Angeles before being traded to New Orleans. He has spent the past seven seasons in Houston, where he earned Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2017.
Gordon provides the Clippers with veteran guard help, taking over the role from Wall, who never reached his All-star level in L.A. or moved from the bench before suffering an abdominal injury. At 34, Gordon continues to be a productive shooter, averaging 12.3 points and shooting 34.75 from beyond the arc.
The Clippers will miss the positivity of Jackson, their longtime starting point guard, brought to the locker room. Although he went from starter to out of the rotation for a few games, he joined the second unit when Wall got hurt. His expiring contract enabled the Clippers to acquire Plumlee.
Kennard, who shot 44.8% from beyond the 3-point line, had fallen out of the rotation after returning from a lingering calf injury and became expendable.