With Paul George potentially being out for the remainder of the year - they look to next year to build the roster around the healthy returns of George and Leonard.

Clippers trade Batum to the Lakers for Kendrick Nunn. Clippers get young PG who can facilitate or play off the ball (when healthy of course) and knock down 3s at a high clip.

The rest of the trade is essentially fillers. Clippers get off of Serge Ibaka’s contract who they likely would have cut if they couldn’t find a suitor at the trade deadline (although they might have kept him and let him walk if he asked for too much as he wasn’t doing anything significant for them).

Lakers get a SLIGHTLY more juiced up big than Deandre Jordan and Dwight that they can throw at centers when AD doesn’t want to play the 5. Lakers send Bazemore and Ellington to match $ (Clippers probably cut them) & Deandre Jordan goes back home to the Clippers organization where he likely retires.

Root of the deal: Lakers get a forward that plays decent defense and knocks down shots to help them win now. Clippers get a young guard to use for the returns of George and Leonard that helps them win in the next few years.