The Los Angeles Clippers have proved the entire NBA wrong with their dominant 16-3 stretch after starting the season 6-21 and their recent string of success could have trade deadline implications. 

The Clippers reportedly rejected a trade from the Boston Celtics that would have sent Ivica Zubac to Boston early in the season when the team was still struggling and now that Los Angeles has enjoyed so much success, it seems more likely that the team has renewed confidence in their Big Three of Zubac, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. 

That renewed confidence could mean that any idea of trading away the three major players could be out the window and instead, the Clippers could once again on focus on building around them in an attempt to attain postseason success while they still have Harden and Leonard under contract, rather than use them to start a new rebuild.

A Q&A article by the Los Angeles Times indicates that the Clippers could have a different player on the trading block instead in order to flesh out their own roster construction goals. 

"The NBA executives and scouts said the Clippers are not looking to move Zubac, Kawhi Leonard or James Harden. Those same NBA people said that the Clippers are looking for a pick-and-roll-oriented point guard and that John Collins’ name has been mentioned as a trade candidate," the article read (via the Los Angeles Times). 

Collins is in his first year with the Clippers and while his production isn't up to the same level that he's shown in years past, his still producing a healthy line with an average of 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

With the emergence of players like Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders, whom the Clippers may also be looking to convert into full-time contracts from their current two-way deals, Collins may have even less of a role this season and could instead be a valuable piece to sweeten prospective trades.

A recent article from SI suggested a number of names the Clippers could pursue as "pick-and-roll oriented guards," including players like Dennis Schroeder and Jose Alvarado, and Collins could go a long way in making those deals possible so the Clippers can sacrifice minimal draft picks in pursuit of a playoff run this season. 

One things appears clear: the Clippers' Big Three will remain intact. The Clippers continue to stun the league with their resurgent second half and as long as that success keeps on going, their faith in the stars that have bought in to this transformation will go a long way.