The Clippers are going down the road of a rebuild. Both of these trades help both teams. Clippers get an initiator they can build around in Simons, as well as multiple firsts and seconds from Boston. The Celtics get there franchise center for the asking price the Clippers demand, and trade multiple seconds by adding Derrick Jones Jr into the trade.

The James Harden trade gives the Rockets the PG they've been looking for and puts all the chips to the middle by adding the Nets first round pick in 2027. They give away VanVleet who cannot play for them this year anyway, and DFS who hasn't played a game for them yet as I am making this. The Clippers get a great veteran PG in VanVleet who contributes to winning like the best of the best PGs. They also get a very good first round pick in the Nets 2027 First and a 3&D forward locked up on a good contract in DFS.

These moves give the Clippers a bunch of draft capital, but also gives them players to build around and keep them from being a terrible team while they owe other teams draft picks. This also keeps the Clippers under the first apron.

Clippers Lineup (When Fully Healthy)

PG: Fred VanVleet SG:Anfernee Simons SF:Kawhi Leonard PF: Dorian Finney Smith C: John Collins Bench: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Brook Lopez, Nic Batum, Kris Dunn, Kobe Sanders

This Clippers team can still compete for a play in spot, but also gives them a bunch of picks and flexibility with Collins and Simons on expiring contracts.