The LA Clippers front office is in total disarray. With Steve Ballmer suspended, Lawrence Frank banned, and the franchise stripped of five draft picks over the Kawhi Leonard cap circumvention investigation, the Lakers have a golden opportunity. Rob Pelinka needs to call across town and capitalize on their crisis.... It is time to raid Intuit Dome for Derrick Jones Jr. Here is why Derrick Jones Jr could be the missing piece at the 4 spot next to Walker Kessler, Luka Dončić, and Austin Reaves. The Analytics: Derrick Jones Jr is not just a high-flying vertical athlete. He is one of the premier bargains in the NBA. •DARKO Contract Ledger: Making $10.0M this season, DARKO projects his actual value at $23.1M. That gives him a +$13.1M surplus value (+131% ROI) after posting a +$18.0M surplus (+189% ROI) last season. •RAPM Impact: According to NBA RAPM data, the Clippers were +4.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court. •Cleaning The Glass: His overall differential ranked in the 83rd percentile (+5.7). •Low-Usage Efficiency: He posted an eFG% impact in the 83rd percentile (+1.8%) and ranked in the 92nd percentile in turnover reduction (-1.9%). Basically, DJJ takes good shots and hardly makes mistakes. The Fit Next to Luka, Reaves, and Kessler With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves orchestrating the offense and Walker Kessler anchoring the paint, the Lakers do not need another ball-dominant scorer. They need point of attack length, defensive switching, and baseline cutting. Defensive metrics show Derrick Jones Jr holding opponents to a -2.2 points per possession impact (71st percentile). Pairing his seven-foot wingspan with Kessler inside builds an elite defensive frontcourt, while his vertical rim pressure creates spacing for Luka to manipulate defenses. DJJ operated as a consistent lob threat during their time together on the Mavs. Why the Clippers would Accept The Clippers are asset starved after losing five draft picks from 2029 through 2033. Their future pipeline is dependent on the successes and failures of the Pacers and Raptors. The interim leadership group needs one thing: draft capital. Offering matching filler paired with all 3 Lakers second-round draft picks gives them some draft assets to rebuild. The Lakers have a rare window to strike. Make the call. (Full cap breakdown and trade construction article linked in the replies below)show more

Lmao they aren’t trading DJJ for second round picks

Why not? Who's trading a first for an expiring DJJ?

Almost any team can top this offer. Lots of teams have extra 1sts they can literally set on fire. Or a young prospect to send in return. Lakers fans always post idiotic trades where they somehow believe 28 other GMs are on vacation.m and the Lakers get good stuff in exchange for garbage. The Luka trade was a miracle event. Exception dies not make the rule.

Clippers aren’t obligated and are in no rush to trade him especially for that package lol Who said they are trading him? And they can easily get better offers @Yinoma2001

The Clippers could easily get a protected FRP for DJJ if they were going to move him. The Lakers don’t have any 1sts.

No one is giving up a protected first for DJJ otherwise we would have heard of that trade

They would rather go 20 years with no picks than to agree to a trade with the Lakers lol

How did they land Zubac then?

You realize the Clippers still have Trent Redden, who had previously worked with Sam Presti, right?

I got OKC making a trade as one of the targets

Yooo that's a really good shout out. He would help them tremendously especially after losing Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins.

Give us a 1st and u can have him bud

Bro spent all this time on a post that would never happen in a million years 😂😂😂😂

Second round picks are fillers. Clippers can get way more from another team

Way more like what though? A first rounder?

Anything more than pure filler. The guy is on a good contract which makes him very valuable in current nba. I would expect a young talent plus a first rounder would get them considering

The Lakers have way less picks to trade than the Clippers. Lakers went all in on this big 3 with 2/3 being poor to average defenders, 0 tradeable firsts for the next 7 years! DJJ is also worth a mid to late first so you keep your seconds.

As much as I'd like this to happen, Clippers ain't doing this but this is hilarious and I love the energy

Fairs.

Fuck the Lakers we ain’t giving yall shit

It's still Clippers vs. Lakers

Bronny and Dalton for DJJ works with the cap. Maybe the Clippers can lure LeBron back to LA next year. Clips can hire Rich Paul to run the team for this year.

I'd be willing to do that with the 3 2nds and Hardy as the salary. It will cost the Lakers about 6.6m in luxury tax.

Not Happening move on. Clippers ain’t Dealing with the Lakers after this

Fredrick you fucking Moron! If Pelinka did call it would be for a job!! GTFOH with your lame ass take!

Dude builds a lengthy analytical thesis on what a valuable player DJJ is, then insists he isn't worth a protected first round pick. Embarrassing.

You don't have the assets bro and you're gonna need those picks you don't have many and the Lakers need more talent

Why would the clips want 2nds when they already have plenty of 2nds?

Same reason teams collect firsts even when they already have firsts

1sts are far more valuable tho so thats not the same at all lol you can literally buy 2nd rd picks every year lol

The last thing the Clippers want to do is help the Lakers or to get worse. Finishing low has no value to the Clippers with no future 1st round picks.

Idiot

This feels like someone trying to sell a trade in fantasy. And it never works.

Cant send them a swap 🤣🤣🤣

Yeah 😂

I believe the Lakers have no picks for 7 years either so how are they getting w/o giving up picks?

Good call on getting DJJ

Maybe this could possibly happen but not until the trade deadline, and even then the Lakers would be the very last team the Clippers would call or entertain a offer from

Why do this when they have thiero, vando and thybulle who all provide similar skills. Derrick is not a great outside shooter.

No!

The Clippers have to figure out a way to at least be a .500 team the next few years. Offloading good players to their crosstown rivals isn’t the best way to fill the Intuit Dome

DJJ n Dunn

I love being delusional asset starved so sell low. lol

Lol