Report: Clippers 'exploring trade options' for Crawford, interested in Nuggets' Chandler
After dealing away defensive-minded veteran Matt Barnes in a three-player trade to acquire "Born Ready" Lance Stephenson from the Charlotte Hornets, the Los Angeles Clippers now need someone to fill that starting small forward role.
While Stephenson is no stranger to playing minutes at the 3, head coach Doc Rivers stated in a recent interview on The Beast 980 in Los Angeles that he'd like the combo guard to be a part of the second unit, saying: 'I don't know if I made the trade for him to be a starter per se. I look at him more to be a utility player that can come in and play literally three different positions."
According to ESPN's Arash Markazi, the Clippers could use two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, who has a team option worth $5.6 million in 2015-16, as trade bait to secure a player who can join Blake Griffin and Chris Paul as a starter.
One reported deal would see the Clippers send Crawford and C.J. Wilcox, who was selected with the 28th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for 28-year-old Wilson Chandler, who's owed $7.1 million next season.
The eighth-year pro is coming off his most productive year playing in the Mile High City, averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds with a true shooting percentage of 52.3 in 78 appearances.
Chandler would be a better long-term fit for the franchise than Paul Pierce of the Washington Wizards, who has also recently been linked to the Clippers. NBA.com's David Aldridge reported in May how The Truth could turn down his player option of $5.5 million to chase another ring with Rivers, who coached him to his first and only championship win in 2008.
Only Griffin, Paul, Stephenson, Wilcox, and J.J. Redick are signed through 2015-16, with Crawford and Lester Hudson having team options.
Rivers, who now has full licence and authority to do as he pleases without former owner Donald Sterling vetoing every trade proposal, will look to bolster a roster that blew a 3-1 series lead in the second round of the NBA playoffs to the Houston Rockets.
“We’re going to be very creative,” Rivers told Markazi. “We have a pretty good plan in place. It started (Monday) and we feel comfortable with where we’re at.”