US media: The Clippers can consider trading Josh Hart, who has a good defense of & to fill the gap in the veteran lineup

Today, the US media LAFB talked about the Clippers' lineup situation and believed that you can consider Josh Hart of the Knicks. The following is some of the content.

As the Knicks parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau after the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, Hart's future in New York has become uncertain. This opens the door for competitors like the Clippers to try to explore how to bring the versatile forward-guard swingman into the roster.

Pro Football & Sports Network reporter Brandon Austin recently pointed out that Hart is probably one of the Knicks’ most realistic trading chips, writing: “Hart is a significant contributor, but his skills are relatively less specialized, making him more traded. If the Knicks want to pursue a major upgrade, he is the kind of player who can be traded. Hart is able to score in a variety of ways, provide sub-organizational abilities and perform high-level defense, which makes him an excellent championship puzzle.”

For the Clippers, Hart has everything they need to complement their veteran lineup. Last season, he averaged 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 77 games, with a shooting percentage of 52.5%. His all-around performance will immediately improve the overall level of the Los Angeles rotation. This is exactly the versatility the Clippers lack when Harden and Leonard are not on the court.

Rather than relying on up and down shooters or role players who are only good at one field, Hart will bring a connector to Los Angeles—a player who fills the vacancy and promotes other players without requiring a lot of ball rights.

The Sporting News reporter Dean Simon recently proposed a possible trading plan: The Clippers send Derek Jones Jr., Drew Eubanks and the draft pick to the Knicks in exchange for Hart.

For the Clippers, this deal will clearly show their current winning attitude. Jones performed well in the 2024-25 season, averaging 10.1 points and 35.6% of three-pointers, but Hart's broader skills and playoff-level style of playoff level may be more valuable.

For New York, such a deal can create cap space and increase rotation depth while retaining the opportunity to chase bigger stars.

If the Clippers want to maximize the championship window for Leonard and Harden, Hart is the kind of signing they need. He is not a star, but he is a playoff-test veteran who brings toughness, versatility and reliability – qualities that often play a key role in the playoff series.

Hart's contract is still three years away from expiration, with $19.47 million next season, $20.92 million in the 26-27 season, and $22.38 million in the 27-28 season.