The 2025 season hasn’t been kind to the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite a roster loaded with names that, on paper, should be in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture, the Clippers have stumbled out of the gate to a 7-21 record.
That’s not just underperforming - it’s alarming. But with no first-round pick to fall back on (thanks to the trade that sent it to Oklahoma City), the Clippers don’t have the luxury of tanking.
They need wins, and they need them now.
That’s why the trade deadline looms large in L.A. There’s growing buzz around the league that the Clippers could be active buyers, looking for a spark to salvage what’s left of the season. One name that’s surfaced in recent conversations: CJ McCollum.
According to league chatter, McCollum could be available for a relatively modest price - potentially just two or three second-round picks. That’s a manageable cost for a team like the Clippers, especially considering McCollum is on an expiring deal. For a front office looking to make a late push without mortgaging the future, that kind of short-term rental makes a lot of sense.
And make no mistake: the Clippers are still trying to compete. Head coach Tyronn Lue and the organization have made it clear they’re not giving up on the season. But the path to the postseason just got trickier with Ivica Zubac going down with a sprained ankle - another blow to a team that’s already had its share of injury setbacks.
Offense has been the Achilles’ heel of this Clippers squad. Kawhi Leonard and James Harden are still capable of creating offense, but they’ve had to shoulder too much of the load.
And the situation only got worse when Bradley Beal’s season was cut short due to a hip fracture. With Beal sidelined, the Clippers are struggling to generate consistent scoring.
They currently rank 24th in offensive rating and are the third-lowest scoring team in the league, averaging just 110.6 points per game. For a roster with this kind of talent, that’s a glaring red flag.
That’s where someone like McCollum could make an immediate impact. At 34, he’s still producing at a high level, averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game for Washington.
He’s shooting nearly 40% from three and 44.5% from the field overall - proof that his scoring touch hasn’t faded with age. He’s not just a volume scorer, either; he brings veteran savvy, playoff experience, and the ability to create his own shot - all things the Clippers desperately need right now.
Of course, the financial side of a potential deal is where things get complicated. McCollum is owed $30.7 million this season, a hefty number for any guard in his mid-30s.
For the Clippers to make it work, they’d need to match salaries, likely involving expiring deals or other movable contracts. But here’s the silver lining: because McCollum’s deal expires after this season, he wouldn’t tie up long-term cap space.
If L.A. still believes it can make a run, that kind of flexibility could be a feature, not a bug.
The Clippers are at a crossroads. The record says one thing, but the talent on this roster - and the front office’s mindset - says they’re not ready to fold.
If they can find a way to bring in McCollum without overextending themselves, it might be the jolt this team needs. Because with the clock ticking and no draft pick safety net to fall back on, standing still isn’t really an option.