INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Lawrence Frank, the president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Clippers, initially believed that the return of Kawhi Leonard would be the team’s most significant move as the NBA’s trade deadline approached. However, as he assessed the roster, it became clear that Leonard’s presence alone wouldn’t suffice. Consequently, Frank focused on augmenting the team’s bench to better prepare for the closing stages of the regular season.
In recent days, the Clippers secured the signings of Bogdan Bogdanovic, Patty Mills, Drew Eubanks, and MarJon Beauchamp, with the potential for further acquisitions yet to come. “We feel really good that we improved our team on the margins, which is very important,” Frank stated before the game against the Utah Jazz. “We had to address some different positions and skillset needs, and we feel confident in the players we added.”
The Clippers obtained Bogdanovic along with three second-round draft picks from the Atlanta Hawks, relinquishing Terance Mann and Bones Hyland in the process. Frank has had a long-standing appreciation for Bogdanovic, despite his struggles with shooting this season. The 32-year-old Serbian guard has averaged 10 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2 assists across 24 games with Atlanta, though he has not played since January 25 due to personal matters. He is expected to make his debut for the Clippers against Memphis on Wednesday.
“We’re a little light on shooting, and Bogdan gives us not just shooting but also good size at the position,” Frank remarked about the 6-foot-5 guard. “He is a quick processor of the game.” Bogdanovic has had a challenging season, hitting only 37.1% of his attempts from the field, a drop from his career average of 43.5%. Frank believes that this downturn is due to unfortunate shooting luck rather than a decline in skills.
“With the way that coach Tyronn Lue utilizes players and Bogdanovic’s style, I anticipate it will be a strong synergy. He is a fierce competitor,” Frank noted, expressing confidence that if Bogdanovic remains healthy, he will significantly contribute to the team’s success.
MarJon Beauchamp, a young 6-foot-7 forward acquired from Milwaukee in exchange for Kevin Porter Jr., adds further depth in the forward position. Frank explained that Beauchamp had limited chances with the Bucks, making him an intriguing player to develop.
Aside from Beauchamp, the Clippers also signed Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks from Utah in return for P.J. Tucker and Mo Bamba, boosting their bench flexibility. Entering the game against the Jazz, the Clippers were on a three-game losing streak but occupied seventh place in the Western Conference with a record of 28-23. There were doubts about their competitiveness this season, particularly after Paul George joined Philadelphia and Leonard missed the first 34 games due to recovery from a knee injury.
“We understand our long-range strategy, but we also intend to be as competitive as we can in the short term and give ourselves every opportunity to advance as far as possible,” Frank explained. In light of recent developments, one name not mentioned was Ben Simmons, who was released by the Brooklyn Nets. Reports suggest he aims to sign with the Clippers once cleared from waivers.
“We have been lucky in the buyout market,” Frank observed, recalling the impacts of players like Nico Batum, Reggie Jackson, and Russell Westbrook, who all made significant contributions. “We are fortunate that we’ve always been an appealing option for buyout players. Guys enjoy playing for coach Tyronn Lue and have developed a fondness for the franchise. We will continue exploring the buyout market to fulfill any additional needs moving forward.”
