Clippers have an obvious trade candidate after surprising lineup move

The Los Angeles Clippers are a bit of a mystery this coming season, but a hint has emerged regarding their lineup plans. 

Isaiah Jackson seems to be their choice to start at center. That makes one of their veterans expendable.

After the departure of Ivica Zubac at last season's trade deadline, it was Brook Lopez who assumed the former's spot as the starting big man for the Clippers. Now, he is slowly falling out of favor with his declined role, and the team has some younger options. As such, he is an obvious trade candidate.

Brook Lopez is an obvious trade candidate for the Los Angeles Clippers

Lopez is on an expiring contract, and while he has definitely declined over the last couple of years, he is still a good option at center for teams in need of championship experience that are looking to make noise in the playoffs.

There are not a lot of floor-spacing big men who can effectively deter shots at the rim, but Lopez is still someone who can fill that role. He is not afraid to hoist it up from deep, and while he is no longer the DPOY-caliber defender he was in Milwaukee, he remains an effective rim protector in certain schemes where he does not need to roam away from the basket.

The Clippers are probably going to lean into Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhauser this season as they slowly pivot to their youth movement. While Lopez will likely continue to get minutes early, his most probable fate is that of being a trade candidate before the deadline.