Danilo Gallinari is heading to Los Angeles. Reports had been swirling that he would join the Clippers via a three-team trade, and on Tuesday night, the teams reached an agreement. The news was broken by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who confirmed that Atlanta and Denver were also involved in the trade.
Sources: The Clippers have reached agreement on a three-team deal to acquire free agent Danilo Gallinari on a three-year, $65M contract.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2017
Sources: As Gallinari heads to LA, Hawks receive Jamal Crawford, Diamond Stone, LA's 2018 FRP via Houston, cash; Denver gets '19 2nd-rounder https://t.co/mFxQMzPjSU
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2017
Gallinari, who will turn 29 years old in August, enjoyed a strong contract year with the Nuggets in 2016-2017. The veteran forward averaged 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor and an impressive 38.9 percent (on 5.1 attempts per game) from three-point range.
While his fit with the Clippers is not necessarily a perfect one alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in a crowded frontcourt, Gallinari does provide the type of shooting threat that Los Angeles desperately needs. The ability to avoid a fourth year is also paramount for Doc Rivers and company, as Gallinari should age well but keeping the contract length to a minimum should aid in preserving value.
For the Hawks and Nuggets, there are other consequences, including the looming possibility of a buyout for Jamal Crawford in Atlanta that could send him to the free agent market despite an eight-figure guaranteed salary. The Clippers, though, are the most prominent team in the deal as the landing spot for Gallinari and it will be exceedingly interesting to see how Rivers and his staff address the potential fit and salary cap concerns moving forward.
