As the Los Angeles Clippers scan the market for a possible upgrade, they reportedly have their eyes on the six-time NBA All-Star, DeMar DeRozan.
According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Clippers had "exploratory conversations" with the Clippers, regarding DeRozan and his Sacramento Kings teammate, Keon Ellis.
It seems that the Clippers would be willing to part ways with John Collins and another salary filler in order to strike a deal to net the two veterans. Collins, a 28-year-old first-round pick, is in the midst of his first season with the Clippers. He was acquired by the Clippers from the Utah Jazz back in July.
The Clippers Would Take on a Major Risk
The days of stacking All-Stars on the same team are starting to fade. With the strategy flopping more often than not, some teams are starting to get hesitant with adding aging veterans and are trying to develop a championship-winning team naturally, without taking the big swings in the trade market.
But there's something in the water out in LA. The Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and even the Clippers can't help but build the first way.
The DeRozan experiment in Sacramento didn't work-clearly. The Clippers haven't found success with stacking stars, but they don't seem to be shying away from the idea as long as Kawhi Leonard and James Harden are in the building and hoping to win it all as soon as possible.
DeRozan's resume is impressive. He has six All-Star nods, multiple All-NBA acknowledgements, and 63 playoff games under his belt.
During his first full season with the Kings, DeRozan averaged 22.2 points per game, shooting 47 percent from the field. In 41 games this year, he's producing 19.1 points per game, while hitting on 50 percent of his shots.
The Clippers haven't been as solid as expected this season, but it's starting click for them at this point of the year. They've won eight of their last 10 games, and went from being near the bottom of the Western Conference with the New Orleans Pelicans and the Kings to now being tied for 10th with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Is it really worth making a big move to bring in another high-usage player just as they are starting to figure it out? It seems the Clippers are at least thinking about it with the trade deadline just a few weeks away.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek