Getty Wilson Chandler is headed to the L.A. Clippers as part of a trade for Tobias Harris.
The Clippers are moving towards the future after agreeing to a major trade with the Sixers involving Tobias Harris as the centerpiece. L.A. will receive rookie guard Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala along with a total of four future draft picks.
The Clippers are getting the Sixers 2020 protected first-round pick along with the Heat’s unprotected 2021 first-round pick, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The trade opens up salary cap space for this summer, and the Clippers could look to get even more space by making another move before the trade deadline.
“The Clippers now have a clear path to a max contract this summer with Tobias Harris shipped to Philadelphia. Removing the Harris hold now has Los Angeles with $37M in room. The team could see room increase to $49M if Avery Bradley is waived,” ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweeted.
Here’s a look at the Clippers roster and projected starting lineup after the trade.
L.A. Clippers Roster & Starting Lineup After Trade
C- Marcin Gortat, Montrezl Harrell, Angel Delgado
PF- Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Johnathan Motley
SF- Danilo Gallinari, Tyrone Wallace, Luc Mbah a Moute
SG- Avery Bradley, Lou Williams, Jerome Robinson, Sindarius Thornwell
PG- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Landry Shamet, Patrick Beverley, Milos Teodosic
Clippers Now Have Cap Space to Sign at Least One Max Free Agent
If the Clippers wanted to make a run at a max player like Kevin Durant, L.A. now has enough cap space to do so. Marks reported the team could sign two max players if they can trade Gallinari before the deadline.
“LAC will have a double max slot this summer if they find a home for Danilo Gallinari in the off-season. Draft compensation received from Philly will certainly help,” Marks tweeted.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported the Clippers could have as much as $70 million in cap space by making another move.
“If the Clippers were to now trade Danilo Gallinari, they could create over $70 million in cap space this summer—enough to sign two max contract players, just like New York. Even if Gallo’s contract were stretched, they’d only be a Lou Williams trade away from still creating $70M,” O’Connor tweeted.
Harris Trade Could Help the Clippers With Anthony Davis
Wojnarowski reported the deal was not made specifically with Anthony Davis in mind, but it does not hurt. The Clippers have been reported as one of the teams Davis would commit to long-term. Wojnarowski detailed the Clippers’ connection to Davis.
The Clippers wanted to move themselves into contention as players in the marketplace for stars wanting to get to the Los Angeles market, and the picks could go a long way to building a significant arsenal. The Clippers didn’t make the deal specifically to pursue New Orleans Pelicans All-NBA center Anthony Davis, sources said, but for star players like him who invariably become available in the marketplace.
Davis included the Clippers on a list of teams he would be willing to commit to long term if traded, but Clippers president Lawrence Frank and general manager Michael Winger didn’t make the trade with the primary objective to pursue Davis, league sources said. New Orleans could have interest in the Clippers’ assets prior to Thursday’s trade deadline — and perhaps again in the offseason, if Davis remains on the Pelicans’ roster.