In the NBA, trades are labeled by the best players involved in them.

The Paul George trade. The Jimmy Butler trade. The Chris Paul trade.

Easy to remember names that will allow the NBA cognoscenti to quickly recall the implications and configurations of the trade. The only problem with this is the “pieces” moved in star-studded trades are so often more interesting than the stars themselves. That is because those “assets” are generally young guys, draft picks and career grinders. The kind of players that can elicit excitement in a fan base.

Stars obviously have that capacity to excite as well but the mystery around players of the aforementioned type have a sense of intrigue around them. No one quite knows what to expect, unlike a star, in which most know exactly what they do well and what they don’t. “Assets” can be the most interesting because of that.

Those are the players the Los Angeles Clippers received in exchange for Chris Paul. Players that most casual fans would say, “Oh yeah, that guy. Used to play for the Rockets… What’s his name?” about. Players like Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell and, to a lesser extent, Lou Williams (people know him).

The Clippers are now two games above .500 and have inserted themselves directly into the playoff conversation largely because of those guys. Guys, that Harrell said were nicknamed the “Goon Squad” in the offseason by an assistant coach. Those in the “Goon Squad” also include Jawaun Evans and Sindarious Thornwell, per Harrell. However, they essentially include the entire bench. A unit that should not succeed but does.

When Harrell, Dekker and Lou Will share the court, they have an offensive rating of 109.1 and a net rating of plus-6.8. To put that into perspective, Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan and Austin Rivers have an offensive rating of 106 and a net rating of minus-4.4. That is in nearly double the minutes, but the “Goon Squad” members have played enough time together for it to be a clear indication of their success.

Dekker explained that the chemistry the trio accumulated in Houston has assisted their play in Los Angeles.

“Yeah, a little bit. When me and Trez (Harrell) played together, that was (our) job in Houston, along with Pat (Beverley). It’s got a little carryover but then we just add a couple guys and play hard. Playing hard is a skill, playing hard is a talent and we have a bunch of guys who can do that.”

Dekker is a player that benefits greatly from that hard work. Cut from the same cloth as Marcus Smart, in that he is not a fantastic shooter, Dekker is converting a ghastly 13.2 percent from 3-point range this season but affects the game in a multitude of ways. This season, he has had a positive plus-minus in 20 of the 29 games he has played double-digit minutes. He cuts well, stays actively engaged and has a lengthy frame that is advantageous in the NBA.

Harrell is another high-energy player. His energy is the type that electrifies the crowd. During the Clippers’ most recent game against the Nuggets, he had a block late in the contest that ultimately turned into a 3-point dagger for the Clippers. But after the block, he mean-mugged the crowd, silently flexing, letting the crowd yell for him.

He has also been rapidly developing in the post, using his violent strength to his advantage to gain space. He does not possess prototypical moves as he simply overwhelms defenders until he is close enough to drop the ball in. He attributed his improvement down low to a developing theme amongst the “Goon Squad”: hard work.

“Just working out. Working on my game, working on being a better player, making sure when I am in my workouts, with my player development coaches, that I’m just going at 110 percent. Going at an in-game speed.”

Williams is the final squad member that is helping push his team into relevance. He is averaging a cool 23 points per game on 45 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. He has been the scorer the “Goon Squad” needed in order to succeed. They grind and he benefits because of it and vice versa. Without his scoring, these players would be viewed much differently, and without their grind, so would he.

This trio’s impact extends the confines of a basketball court. Ask a Clipper fan about this season and they will beam with pride. That’s what happens when expectations sink low and injuries hit hard. It is easier to succeed and success is that much more satisfying when it is unexpected.

Those involved in the Chris Paul trade may ultimately be an afterthought in the grand scheme of the NBA, but in Los Angeles, they have carved out an important role. One built on hard work — hard work from a bunch of pieces.

A bunch of assets.

A bunch of contracts.

A bunch of goons.

The post The “Goon Squad” is More Than an Accumulation of Assets for the Los Angeles Clippers appeared first on Def Pen.