Kris Dunn is smart business for the Clippers

The L.A. Clippers have spent the opening weeks of the offseason re-tooling their roster. Since losing Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers, Lawrence Frank has been constructing a roster that can develop a defensive identity.

According to Chris Haynes , the Clippers acquired Kris Dunn from the Utah Jazz via trade on Friday. As part of the deal, Russell Westbrook is heading to Salt Lake City.

Dunn is an elite point-of-attack defender. At 6-foot-3, he's tall enough to switch between both backcourt positions. He's also coming off a strong season with Will Hardy's team. Dunn averaged 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 47 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from three-point range. He also finished the season in the 90th percentile for Defensive Estimated Plus/Minus , making him one of the most impactful team defenders in the NBA.

The Clippers' addition of Derrick Jones Jr. is another sign of their renewed focus on the defensive end. As such, Ty Lue now has a team capable of executing his game plan on both ends of the floor.

Assuming Kawhi Leonard is healthy, the Clippers could be one of the best defensive teams in the league next season. For reference, they ranked 16th last season .

While Dunn may be seen as a downgrade from Westbrook in terms of sheer talent, his fit on the Clippers roster makes perfect sense. He brings defense and low-usage scoring, and he can create for his teammates when given the opportunity. Frank has done well in pivoting from the blow of losing George. Suddenly, the Clippers appear to have a genuine identity. They should be a legitimate threat in the Western Conference next season if they can remain healthy.