“Roster building is very much ongoing.”

That was Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, on Saturday, the day after the Clippers traded for Norman Powell and Robert Covington, proving themselves forward-thinking buyers – not satisfied sellers – even during this season in which they’ve been without either of their two injured All-Stars for much of the time.

The roster – as constructed Wednesday morning, with the Thursday’s noon (PT) trade deadline bearing down – was down to one point guard after last week’s trade, which dealt Eric Bledsoe to Portland along with Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second-round pick.

Or, as Frank said he thinks of the position: “Instead of saying point guard, I really look at play-starter, play-finisher, connector…” which might not exactly define Reggie Jackson, the Clippers’ current de facto play-starter who’s probably best as a play-finisher.

Jackson had games of 12 and nine assists last month, but for the season, he’s averaging just 4.1 assists per game – and 2.2 turnovers, including six costly giveaways in Tuesday’s 135-109 loss in Memphis.

“It is what we have right now,” an uncharacteristically stone-faced Jackson said Tuesday night, on Zoom. “Just taking the hand that’s dealt. (I’m) maybe the only guy who’s necessarily handled the ball primarily in his career, but we got a bunch of guys who can bring it up. When we get into sets, we got guys who can attack and get downhill …

“But I’ve got to be better at organizing the team, getting us into our spots and then just protecting the ball and being aggressive trying to get downhill and make plays for others. That’s on me, I can’t have six turnovers, especially a team like this.”

The pressing question: Will the Clippers make a move to add another point guard/”play-starter” capable of playing off the ball when Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are back doing most of the ball handling?

And how might they go about acquiring one? Serge Ibaka, the veteran big man, remains a candidate to be traded. He’s on an expiring $9.7 million contract, has battled injuries, and had his playing time reduced in something of an inconsistent platoon with fellow reserve center Isaiah Hartenstein – an arrangement that hasn’t seemed to help either man’s play.

Although Frank insists “you can never have enough wings,” the Clippers do have a surplus of players who fit that description, including Marcus Morris Sr. and Nicolas Batum, who’ve been rumored to interest other teams who’d like to acquire their services.

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It’s worth noting: Batum, who re-signed on a team-friendly $3.2 million contract this offseason, has veto power in any potential trade.

What’s more: Batum and Morris have proved they fit well with Leonard and George – a factor that Frank stressed remains the Clippers’ priority as they continue to contemplate roster construction.

“We feel really, really good that we’re gonna build a championship team around Kawhi and Paul,” Frank said. “‘OK, can we find a guy who can do these skill sets that maybe relieve some of the burden on Kawhi and Paul?’ And guess what? That player can be a forward. It doesn’t have to necessarily be a, quote-unquote, point guard. I would rather double, triple, quadruple down on players that fit around those guys and then be creative and try to figure out some different ways to figure it out.

“But, look,” Frank added, “roster construction is still ongoing. It’s not like it stops on Thursday, either. It keeps on going.”

took sum. pic.twitter.com/yN0R8C1w7o

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) February 9, 2022

WHO RUN IT?

PUT IT ON @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/Cclcb0TFMr

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) February 9, 2022

CLIPPERS (27-29) at MAVERICKS (32-23)

When: 5:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas

TV/Radio: Bally Sports SoCal / 570 AM