Latest Clippers Intel Presents Clear Priorities Before NBA Trade Deadline

The Los Angeles Clippers are anticipated to be active ahead of the NBA trade deadline on February 5th, with a primary goal of creating one or two additional roster spots. This move is intended to facilitate converting two-way players Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller to standard contracts, thereby helping the team manage its position relative to the league's financial aprons.

The team's season began poorly with a 6-21 record, but a turnaround commenced after December 20th when coach Tyronn Lue set a goal of finishing 35-20. Since then, the Clippers have gone 13-3, showing significant improvement on both offense and defense with contributions across the roster.

Kobe Sanders, a 2025 draft pick, has become a versatile and consistent rotation player, appearing in every game since November 12th. Jordan Miller, now healthy after early-season injuries, has secured a crucial role in the rotation and is in his final season of two-way eligibility, increasing the urgency to sign him to a standard deal.

NBA rules limit how many games two-way players can be active when a team has fewer than 15 standard contracts. The Clippers temporarily addressed this by signing Patrick Baldwin Jr. to a 10-day contract on January 16th, which paused the countdown on their remaining "Under 15" games and bought them more time to make a permanent roster adjustment before the deadline.