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Sacramento Receive: F Maurice Harkless, G Landry Shamet, 2020 Clippers second round pick
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: G Bogdan Bogdanovic
Why the Clippers Do It:
45 games into the season, the Clippers currently sit at 31-14, trailing just the Lakers and Jazz for the top spot in the Western Conference. The one starting position that can be tweaked in Los Angeles is at power forward. Maurice Harkless owns the starting PF spot and is averaging just over five points per game, albeit on 51% field goal percentage in a limited role with two superstar forwards taking all the shots.
If the Clippers want to strengthen their starting lineup before the deadline, dealing Mo Harkless to Sacramento would certainly juice up their starting five. As of now, Paul George plays a perimeter role, and Kawhi operates as the small forward. The addition of Bogdanovic would insert a true shooting guard into the line up, thus moving PG13 to the power forward slot in the starting five.
Not only does this put Paul George back at a forward position, but it also spaces the floor for Kawhi to operate inside the three-point line. Bogdanovic is shooting the three-ball at 38%, a much better figure than Harkless’ career 32% from deep.
Although the Clippers ship the promising Landry Shamet away, Lou Williams has been on a tear recently, and is in strong contention for yet another Sixth Man of the Year award. The Clippers bench mob will still be among the scariest in the league, even without Shamet.
Why the Kings Do It:
Sitting one spot out of last in the Western Conference, the 15-26 Kings have so far failed to reach expectations after finishing as the 9th seed in the West last year. The recent trading of 34-year-old Trevor Ariza has oriented this Kings team towards a rebuild.
Sending out Bogdan Bogdanovic - an enticing, sweet-shooting two-guard who will likely reject his qualifying offer and become a free agent this summer - for two young pieces and a draft pick is the correct step for this organization to take.
Shamet is just 22 years old and has shown lots of promise in Philly and LA. He can shoot the lights out, and potentially replace Bogdan's role and production in two years or so. Mo Harkless is a veteran, having seen enough of the NBA hardwood to mentor the younger forwards like Harry Giles and Marvin Bagley III, while still being young enough to contribute to a quality rotation.
Under first year head coach Luke Walton, this young team should gear to collect draft picks and build towards the future. This trade would accomplish exactly that.
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