The opportunity to add a premier NBA point-guard rarely rears its head in such a competitive league, yet with Kyle Lowry’s name circulating the trade market, here’s how the LA Clippers can acquire the 6-time All-Star and reunite him with some familiar faces.
Following a competitive but fruitless playoff run in the 2020 NBA bubble, the Toronto Raptors have stumbled into the season, posting a sub-.500 record through 24 games.
With franchise point guard Kyle Lowry on an expiring contract and a period of rebuilding on the horizon up north, the LA Clippers have the potential to capitalize and bolster an already strong roster for an inevitably tightly-knit Western Conference.
Ty Lue says Paul George will miss at least the next two road games. He will not join the team on the trip which includes games at Minnesota and Chicago.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) February 9, 2021
The Clippers, winners in one of their last four contests, are faced with the unfortunate news that Paul George will miss LAC’s next two games visiting Minnesota and Chicago. Yet, even accounting for their last few games, the Clippers sit comfortably at third in the West.
A team of this caliber, provided they can secure homecourt for the first round, can afford to have off-nights. However, as is true for all robust postseason squads, if a star isn’t performing, there needs to be someone ready to back them up, and take charge of the game.
Patrick Beverley, regularly starting for the Clippers, has not quite been the playmaking maestro that his team would like him to be, posting a career-low 2.1 assists per game, accompanied by a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Beverley, not known as an offensive catalyst, is averaging eight points per game on 40 percent from the field. Similarly, Lou Williams, LAC’s spark plug off the bench in recent seasons, has also seen some drop-off in his offensive game, scoring 10.4 points per game on 40 percent shooting.
In contrast, Raptors’ Kyle Lowry is posting numbers north of his career averages in points (17.0/14.8), assists (5.7/4.3), and rebounds (6.7/6.2), and shooting 0.3 percent above his career average from the field.
Simply, there should be no doubting Lowry’s offensive skillset; an extremely reliable 3-point shooter (37%), capable of making plays in the pick and roll, not to mention his distinction as a formidable on-ball defender.
Kyle Lowry’s production more than makes up for the losses of Williams and Beverley, but there is always more to a team’s success than numbers.
However, a number of potential barriers are between the Clippers and Lowry. First, giving up their backup big-man in Ivica Zubac can be hard to swallow. Zubac is a substantial reserve for Ibaka and matches up well against opposing 7-footers.
Secondly, the Clippers are sorely lacking in terms of draft compensation, not having ownership of a first-round pick until 2027. In order to make Toronto’s transition into a rebuild easier, the Clippers will need to be willing to give up more assets than they may like.
Barring the intricacies of ironing out a deal between the Raptors and Clippers, what does this trade offer LAC in the form of team success? Lowry is a proven winner, capable of stepping up when needed, and potentially most importantly, he has chemistry. Winning the 2019 NBA championship with now-Clippers Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka, there should be no question as to how Lowry would fare cohesion-wise with the Clippers roster.
Lowry boasts defensive prowess equal, if not superior to Patrick Beverley’s, and can play the role of floor-general, allowing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to get to their spots, and reduce their offensive load while boosting efficiency.
As of now, the NBA’s Western Conference is saturated with talent, and putting together a deadly starting five with Lowry running the show alongside George, Leonard, Batum, and Ibaka has the potential to devastate opposing teams on both ends of the floor.
Even come the postseason, as rotations tighten, the Clippers’ potential lack of depth will become less of an issue. Backups Reggie Jackson, Marcus Morris, and Luke Kennard’s production can be supplemented by the signing of free agents prior to May 16th.
While trades begin to circulate leaguewide, the Clippers have games to play. Facing off with Minnesota on Wednesday without Paul George or Patrick Beverley, the Clippers look to get back on track with a win.