Being three games above .500, the Los Angeles Clippers are on track to make the playoffs in the Western Conference as the fifth seed. But with just four games separating the third seed and the 11th in the West, reaching the postseason is no sure thing at this stage in the year.

One would expect a natural surge later in the year if both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George can remain in the starting lineup, but it appears the Clippers may want to make contingency plans instead.

As trade rumors ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 9 deadline continue to fly, the Clippers are one of the teams frequently linked to players who could be on the move. Two of those players include All-Star point guard D’Angelo Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who is on an expiring contract worth $31.3 million. Another is power forward Christian Wood from the Dallas Mavericks, who is also on an expiring contract worth $14.3 million.