Clippers open the door for Spurs' playoff run after senseless trade

Trades in the NBA are exciting because they often flip the power dynamic in the league. You don't always know how things will shake out, but the potential for something new and interesting is always enticing. However, some trades leave you scratching your head, and this is one of them.

ESPN's Senior Insider, Shams Charania, reports that the Clippers, Jazz, and Heat have agreed to a three-team trade. Norman Powell is headed to Miami after being LA's second-leading scorer last season. John Collins will head to the Clippers, ending his stint in Utah, who is landing Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, and a 2027 second-rounder from Los Angeles.

The deal may preclude another for the Clippers, but if it's what NBA cap expert Yossi Gozlan thinks it is—a Bradley Beal acquisition—Spurs fans should be smiling heavily as another playoff spot may soon be available.

This trade is a huge risk for the Clippers

Steve Ballmer must be a degenerate gambler because he is all about taking risks. You kind of respect it. He wants to win badly, and that's what fans want to see from the owner of their favorite team, but I don't know about this one.

That organization has been the laughingstock of the league for as long as anyone can remember. He wants to change that, but he just added a player who isn't as good as the player he traded away. Norman Powell straight-up won his team games last season. His ability as a scorer and clutch performer is notable. If you know hoops, you know Powell is a baller.

Collins, on the other hand, is always on the trade block. He's an undersized big who has never reached his potential. He provides some scoring, but he's a negative defender. On top of that, he's injury-prone. That adds more uncertainty to an already unpredictable attendance record.

Kawhi Leonard is one of the most injured players in the league. He only played 37 games last year. Collins played in 40. If they add Bradley Beal, they'll be adding another star they can't rely on. The former Wizard has reached 60 games played once since he suited up in an impressive 82 games in the 2018-19 season. In his last four years, he's played in 40, 50, 53, and 53 games.

So, even though they added Brook Lopez in free agency and traded for John Collins, increasing their frontcourt depth, can you rely on a 37-year-old Lopez and injury-prone Collins? James Harden can pull a disappearing act at any given moment. At every position, they have huge question marks. That's fine for Spurs fans.

The Clippers took the fifth seed last season with 50 wins. That won't be the case this year. They'll step back, and San Antonio will leap forward. With a full offseason to work together and hopefully, much less adversity than they faced last year, the Silver and Black should race past several teams. After this move, the Clippers are likely to be one of them.