Does this trade make sense for the Los Angeles Clippers?
Landing Kyrie Irving would be a huge move for the Clippers to make and it would solidify them as arguably the best team in the Western Conference when Kawhi Leonard returns, but there is just no way for them to make this trade worthwhile for Brooklyn, at least by themselves.
The draft compensation they would be trading to the Nets is irrelevant not only because they are all second-round picks, but because the Nets do not want draft picks for Irving. If they look to trade the All-Star guard, the Nets are going to want an equal-level player in return that can help them contend for a championship this year.
The only player the Clippers can trade that would fit these criteria is Paul George and they are not going to be trading him, so Los Angeles’ only chances of landing Kyrie Irving in a trade are if the 76ers get involved and offer Brooklyn Ben Simmons or if another team offers an All-Star-level player to Brooklyn.
However, then the Clippers will run into the same problem of whether or not the 76ers or another team in the league would want Bledsoe/Kennard/Johnson and second-round draft picks for them to give up their All-Star-level player.
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Los Angeles is just in no shape to negotiate big trades right now seeing as they have no draft assets through the years, which is why going after another All-Star is almost impossible for them to do.
Seeing as they have a $2M TPE and an $8.25M TPE, the Los Angeles Clippers will be much more inclined to use these exceptions and add some rotational players to their roster this season. Adding Irving makes a lot of sense for the Clippers, but there is just no way for them to get this deal done, hence why it will not happen.
