The Los Angeles Clippers finished the 2024-25 season with a 50-32 record and entered the playoffs hoping for a deep run. However, those dreams ended when they fell to the Denver Nuggets in a hard-fought seven-game first-round series.
Rather than sitting back, the Clippers have been working to improve their roster and just completed a significant three-team trade.
What Does the 3-Team Trade Mean for the Clippers?
According to the latest report by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Clippers, Utah Jazz, and Miami Heat agreed to a trade with the following details:
- Norman Powell to the Miami Heat
- John Collins to the Los Angeles Clippers
- Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to the Utah Jazz
BREAKING: The Clippers, Jazz and Heat have agreed to a trade that sends Norman Powell to Miami, John Collins to Los Angeles, and Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and a 2027 Clippers second-round pick to the Jazz, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/o0FkV0o2l8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2025
Los Angeles gets John Collins, who spent the 2024-25 season with Utah. Collins appeared in 40 games during the 2024-25 campaign, starting 31 of them. He averaged 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game. The 6’9″ forward shot 52.7% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range.
Collins brings athleticism and floor-spacing ability that should work well alongside Ivica Zubac in the frontcourt. His finishing ability around the rim and reliable outside shooting can open up the floor for the team’s stars. The forward also gives Los Angeles a scoring punch in transition and pick-and-roll sets.
Collin with 20 points off the bench in 20 minutes #TakeNote | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/693rEg1Lu7
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 20, 2022
Powell heads to Miami after averaging 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 60 games with the Clippers during the 2024-25 season. The 6’3″ guard shot 48.4% from the field and 41.8% from 3-point range. His departure creates a hole in LA’s backcourt depth, but the team clearly prioritized adding frontcourt size and versatility.
How Does Brook Lopez Fit Into the Clippers’ Plans?
This trade represents just part of the Clippers’ offseason strategy. The team already signed veteran center Brook Lopez, who averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game during the 2024-25 season. Lopez shot 50.9% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range across 80 games with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Brook is an elite rim protector and range shooter who will bring a different dimension to our frontcourt. He is also a former champion and a genuine pro who will be a great addition to our group,” said Lawrence Frank about Lopez.
The combination of Collins and Lopez gives the Clippers a versatile frontcourt rotation. Collins can switch defensively and guard multiple positions, which allows Lopez to focus his energy on rim protection. In pick-and-roll situations, Lopez can serve as a shot-blocking anchor rather than chasing players on the perimeter.
Lopez brings championship experience from his time with the Bucks, where he helped Milwaukee win the 2021 NBA title. At 37 years old, he remains an effective two-way player who can stretch the floor offensively while protecting the paint defensively.
With these moves, the Clippers are positioning themselves as contenders for the 2025-26 season. The additions of Collins and Lopez address the team’s need for frontcourt depth and versatility while maintaining their core group of stars.
