The Clippers appeared ready to sell off their top veteran players at this year’s trade deadline and head into a rebuild after the shocking trade sending star forward Blake Griffin to Detroit.
DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams figured to be on the trade block in an effort to land some future assets to kickstart a rebuild in L.A., but as we near Thursday afternoon’s trade deadline it appears the Clippers may keep at least one if not both players. A report on Wednesday indicated the Clippers were not so desperate to deal Jordan that they would take on a bad contract in return.
Their refusal to eat significant long-term money without getting a significant future asset, such as the Brooklyn pick from Cleveland, has stalled Jordan talks and it’s possible they will hold him through the season and take their chances when Jordan likely hits free agency in July. As for Williams, the veteran guard who is having a career year in L.A. is now apparently closing in on a contract extension to keep him with the Clippers long term.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst reported Williams was nearing an extension late Tuesday night and teams chasing Williams were of the mindset that Williams was no longer on the market.
Extension discussions between guard Lou Williams and the LA Clippers have gathered significant momentum, and a new contract is within reach before Thursday afternoon’s NBA trade deadline, league sources told ESPN.
Rival teams were increasingly resigned late Tuesday night that Williams, 31, was exiting the trade market and returning to the Clippers on a multiyear contract, league sources said.
The terms of the extension being discussed for Williams aren’t known, but it will likely see Williams get a fairly solid pay bump from the $7 million he’s earning this season. Williams, who was among the many players sent by Houston to the Clippers for Chris Paul, has apparently found himself very comfortable and considering the cap crunch so many teams are facing this summer, it’s probably a wise move for Williams to cash in now rather than risk being among the players pinched by so few teams having major space.
As Windy and Woj note in their report, Williams inking an extension may cause the market for Tyreke Evans and Marcus Smart to pick up and accelerate deals for those two ahead of the deadline.
