5 wins and 13 losses! A chance for last place! Breathing room brought by Kobe’s protégé?

Today’s regular season, Los Angeles Derby, the Clippers lost 118-135 to the Lakers in an away game, losing two consecutive games.

So far, after 18 games, the Clippers have only won 5 games and lost 13 games. They are firmly in the third-to-last seat in the Western Conference, only ahead of the Mavericks and Pelicans.

For the Clippers, they were once highly optimistic after their heavy signings during the offseason. Point guard Harden controlled the team's rhythm, scorer Beal provided the finishing touches, Leonard was at the small forward position, and Collins at the fourth position was responsible for the frontcourt. Zubac protected the frame under the basket and took advantage of the cake. On the bench rotation, Paul also organized and revitalized the second team, and Lopez had both frame protection and space advantages.

Looking at the lineup on paper, this should be the Clippers' lineup with the deepest rotation and the most balanced players in recent years. But the reality is far crueler than imagined.

Old Paul's condition has declined greatly, and both offense and defense can't keep up with the team's rhythm at all; Luo Luo's frame protection is valuable, but his maneuvering speed is also far from the peak; Collins has combat power, but he has not been able to get along well with the team this season; what's even worse is that Bill was reimbursed for the season after playing only a few games, and almost all the new players in the offseason were thunderous.

As for Leonard, it is difficult to carry the team's banner after playing in and out, and his playing time is limited; he has only played in 8 games so far this season, averaging 23.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. It is really difficult to expect him to be able to carry the team steadily.

Overnight, the Clippers, which seemed to have everyone on board, fell into the same situation as last season. James Harden took the blame alone and led a bunch of role players to support the remaining team.

Of course, from the perspective of the lineup, the Clippers last season were barely acceptable. Zubac was stable enough inside, and Powell could also shoulder the offensive responsibility. Even if Leonard missed most of the season, the Clippers could still secure a top six spot in the Western Conference.

Coming to this season, even though Harden averaged 27.9 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game, his true shooting percentage was as high as 63.8%, his personal usage rate remained above 35% for a long time, and his playing time reached a career-high 35.6 minutes, it was still difficult to save the Clippers from defeat. But the good news is that the Clippers, the third-worst team in the Western Conference, are finally moving again.

According to NBA reporter Jake Weinbach, after the Kings trade door opened, the Clippers and the Kings had preliminary contact, and the main discussion focused on the swap deal between DeRozan and Collins.

Judging from their records, the Kings and Clippers are brothers in distress. The Clippers currently have a record of 5 wins and 13 losses, ranking 13th in the Western Conference, while the Kings have a record of 5 wins and 13 losses, ranking 12th in the Western Conference.

The Clippers need to change their formation to save themselves, while the Kings are facing a trade reshuffle. Both sides are dissatisfied with the current situation of the team, and exchanging core players will give them the opportunity to get what they need.

Combined with player salary, Collins' salary this season is 26.6 million. He has played 18 games this season, averaging 11.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and shooting 49.7%+35.4%+80% from three fields. Judging from the content of the game, the offensive end cannot open up space, the defensive end cannot protect the frame with high quality, and there is no cost-effectiveness on both ends.

As for DeRozan, his salary this season is 24.75 million. He has played 18 games this season, averaging 18.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. His three field goal percentages are 50%+36.1%+89.6%. Although his personal data is not explosive, his success lies in his stable offensive status and his attendance rate in recent seasons has been high enough.

More importantly, as Harden's old friend for 20 years, the tacit understanding between the two does not need to be adjusted, and DeRozan's best mid-range shooting and key ball abilities are exactly the offensive link that the Clippers lack most today. And if this deal can finally take shape, the Clippers' offensive capabilities will indeed have a chance to improve.

Simply imagine this new lineup:

Harden + DeRozan form a perimeter ball-handling combination. Both are scorers with both ball-handling and mid-range shooting, and can also be responsible for key ball offenses; as long as forward Leonard is healthy, he can also return to the off-ball position to handle the offense and defense, while Zubac continues to be responsible for eating cakes and attacking the basket.

Although DeRozan on the defensive end is not at the top level, he can at least reach a qualified level under team defense. The key is that DeRozan can reduce Harden's physical burden and reduce his personal usage rate, so as not to collapse early in the second half of the season.

For the current Clippers, it is already a bit embarrassing to continue shouting the championship slogan. From the championship team in the offseason, their goal is now to strive for the playoffs.

According to the current remnant team, the chance of a comeback is slim. But if DeRozan has the opportunity to put on a Clippers jersey, it may be the last chance for this Clippers.