Luka Doncic-Coveting Clippers Reportedly Had Trades Turned Down By 4 Teams In Top 5 Of NBA Draft
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 22: View of the seats before Game Two of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2015 NBA Playoffs between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on April 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Clippers are looking at all options to improve their roster, including the potential addition of a superstar like Kawhi Leonard. The team also has some interesting NBA Draft flexibility, which is is reportedly trying to use to land in the top five, with Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic a potential Clippers trade target.
With the NBA Draft coming tomorrow, it is probably an either/or proposition. The Clippers own the Nos. 12 and 13 picks in the Draft.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Clippers offered those picks as a package in an attempt to jump up into the top five. Thus far, they have been rebuffed, but they continue to covet Doncic, who many believe could be the best player in this NBA Draft.
They have offered their own lottery picks, the 12th and 13th selections, to make a deal to move up, according to NBA executives not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and media reports. So far they have been rebuffed in their attempts to procure a deal for a top-five pick with the Sacramento Kings (who pick second), Atlanta Hawks (third), Memphis Grizzlies (fourth) and Dallas Mavericks (fifth).
The Clippers will continue to do their due diligence and talk with teams ahead of them in the draft with the hopes of getting a high enough pick to select European star Luka Doncic, according to the executives.
Unfortunately for Jerry West and company, reports from around the league make it sound like Doncic is likely to go no later than third. With the Phoenix Suns expected to take Arizona star DeAndre Ayton, Doncic could go to the Kings at No. 2, and is reportedly at the top of the board for the Hawks at No. 3.
That means Kawhi Leonard could be a more likely Clippers trade option.
A move would have to come fast given the quick timetable, and it is unclear if the San Antonio Spurs would see two late-lottery picks as enough for a player of Leonard's caliber.
It is also a very legitimate question whether Kawhi would want to sign long-term with the franchise. The Clippers are in his native Southern California, but do not have the same cachet as the Lakers, and may not be a contender for other stars like LeBron James and Paul George, who have also been linked to their Los Angeles rivals.
