Danilo Gallinari (Photo : Getty Images Sport)
The LA Clippers are still hoping for that one piece that could take them over their playoff hill and NBA trade rumors have them pursuing a new candidate.
The last we heard of the Clippers was that they were probably the most viable destination for the Carmelo Anthony trade. That window has not actually closed.
However, the Clippers do not have cap space and there seems to be no way to trade for someone like Anthony without giving up one of their own Big Three. If Blake Griffin would be the bait, Kevin O' Connor of The Ringer has a proposal involving the Boston Celtics.
"Los Angeles gets: Carmelo Anthony, Avery Bradley
New York gets: Amir Johnson, Jamal Crawford, 2018 unprotected Celtics first-round pick, 2018 protected Grizzlies first (via Boston), 2019 unprotected Clippers first
Boston gets: Blake Griffin, Paul Pierce"
The Clippers should have reason to make this trade since Griffin is a free agent at the end of the season. But the deal also assumes that the Celtics will have some assurance that Griffin will re-sign with them.
O'Connor argued that the Clippers "are still the most logical destination for Anthony. They are a title-contending team in a big market" not to mention Melo's relationship with Chris Paul.
The latest trade rumors, however, point to the Clippers taking interest in Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets as reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.
"League sources say Danilo Gallinari is a prime Nugget to watch between now and the deadline. The Raptors and Clippers are among the teams said to be monitoring Gallinari's availability, amidst a growing belief that Denver is prepared to move him, given that the Nuggets anticipate that Gallinari will bypass the final season of his current contract (valued at $16.1 million) and join Millsap on the open market, and they don't plan to spend big to retain the Italian."
The Nuggets have found their star in center Nikola Jokic and may have shifted their focus on building around the young big man. They also have other young pieces to fit his timeline: Jamal Murray and Emmanuel Mudiay are two young guards that have great potential.
