Looking for another scoring option after losing J.J. Redick to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Clippers are working on a trade with the Denver Nuggets for power forward Danilo Gallinari. Sam Amick of USA Today reported that the Clippers are going after Gallinari to team up with Blake Griffin, whom they signed to a five-year deal worth $175 million. Amick said the Clippers are eyeing Gallinari via a sign-and-trade deal. They are also looking for a third team in order to complete the trade.
If Gallinari joins the Clippers, it will be a new-look offensive for the Clippers, who were known to be as “Lob City” with point guard Chris Paul running the show.
With Paul now traded to the Houston Rockets, Griffin will be the focal point of their offense. Redick signed a one-year deal with the 76ers worth $23 million.
According to Sporting News, Gallinari is looking for a deal similar to what Chandler Parsons signed with the Memphis Grizzlies last summer. Parsons inked a four-year, $94 million deal but the Grizzlies did not get their money’s worth as he played just 36 games last season.
Gallinari a dependable scorer when healthy
If healthy, the 28-year-old Gallinari can emerge as another scoring threat for the Clippers or any team. Last season, he averaged 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Two years ago, he submitted his best scoring average, tallying 19.5 points per outing for the Nuggets.
Gallinari’s health is questionable as his career was marred by several injuries. He skipped the 2013-14 season after undergoing two ACL surgeries on his left knee but he bounced back, suiting up for 53 and 63 games the past two years. A sixth overall pick by the Knicks in 2008, he played in New York for two seasons before he was traded to the Nuggets in 2011 as part of the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Big Apple.
Boston also interested in Gallinari
Aside from the Clippers, Tarringo Basile-vaughan of Fan Sided reported that the Boston Celtics are also interested in signing Gallinari in case they fail to sign free agent forward Gordon Hayward. Gallinari averaged 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 460 career games and made 37 percent of his attempts from beyond the three-point line during that span.
Gallinari could draw interest from the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat. Gallinari is also interested in returning to the Nuggets, saying his relationship with the city and the organization is great.
