Clippers Are Expected to Trade Away Key Guard This Season

Guard Kris Dunn has been one of the only things going right for the Los Angeles Clippers during a rough start, and that steady defense could also make him the first player the team moves before the trade deadline in February.

ESPN's Bobby Marks included Dunn in his list of players in contract years on Tuesday and predicted that Los Angeles will trade the 32-year-old guard before the deadline.

Dunn is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, which makes him an easy trade chip for a team that has lost six straight games and sits at 1-6.

Dunn has always made his living on defense, and he ranked fourth in the league in steals and fifth in deflections last season, according to ESPN.

He has been even more disruptive this year, averaging 9.0 points, 4.7 assists and a career-high 2.9 steals through seven games, per Basketball Reference.

His best night came on Sunday in a 124-112 loss at Golden State, when he piled up a career-high seven steals to go with 12 points and four assists.

He is also playing close to 30 minutes a night, the second-highest mark of his career, so the Clippers are leaning on him heavily.

Marks expects a contender to give up real value to get a defender like that, and he spelled out what he thinks the return will be.

"The Clippers trade Dunn at the deadline and recoup one of the five future first-round picks docked after the NBA's salary cap circumvention investigation," Marks wrote.

The league took away five of the team's first-round picks from 2029 to 2033 over the Kawhi Leonard investigation, so getting even one of them back would be a big win for the front office.

Marks also predicted that Dunn would then sign a two-year, $37 million extension with his new team to skip free agency.

Moving Dunn would cost the Clippers more than steals, since he has taken on a leadership role with rookie Keaton Wagler.

He praised the young guard's game during training camp and stood behind him through a slow start after a loss to the Lakers last week.

Still, I would make that deal if a first-round pick is on the table, because this team is struggling to win now and head coach Tyronn Lue already had to answer for a crushing home loss to Toronto on Monday.

A 32-year-old guard on an expiring contract is worth more to a contender than he is to a team near the bottom of the Western Conference.

The injury report is not helping either, with forward Brandon Ingram and guard Bradley Beal still out, while forwards Rui Hachimura and Derrick Jones Jr. are expected back after missing Monday's game.

Dunn has played in all seven games so far, and teams shopping for a healthy guard will notice that as the deadline gets closer.

The Clippers host the Heat on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome.

If Dunn keeps piling up steals the way he has, I expect plenty of teams to call before February, and the front office should hear every one of them out.