Hoops Habit
Fansided

5 of the biggest takeaways from the NBA trade deadline

By Daniel Lubofsky

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 11: Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates a first half basket with Andrew Wiggins #22 while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 11, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 11: Robert Covington #33 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates a first half basket with Andrew Wiggins #22 while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on November 11, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. The Clippers continue to dig deeper in their title chase

When the L.A. Clippers swung the mega-deal to bring in Paul George — and by extension, Kawhi Leonard — they made a conscious decision to furiously contend for a championship by any means necessary

It’s a mindset that sent out a plethora of draft picks in exchange for the dynamic duo over the summer, and its also what netted Marcus Morris at the expense of even more draft capital to better fortify their depth.

Morris was in the midst of a career-best season with the New York Knicks, posting career-highs with 19.6 points per game and a 3-point percentage of 43.9, fifth-best in the league.

With neither Leonard nor George opting to play much power forward, the Clippers were thin in the frontcourt. Morris offers legitimate floor-spacing, something neither Maurice Harkless or JaMychal Green brought, and the perfect mentality to mesh with rough-riders like Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell.

Morris’s addition was never set in stone until the deal was finally done, not with the Los Angeles Lakers in pursuit of the eighth-year veteran’s services as well.

By winning out over the team most likely to stand in the way of a potential finals run, the Clippers didn’t just improve at the expense of the Lakers stagnation.

Through shipping more draft picks, they once again showed a willingness to sacrifice the future to maximize the present. Given the state of the roster with now five players averaging at least 19.0 points per game, it has the chance to pay off handsomely come June.