Per TMZ, Los Angeles Clippers Point Guard Patrick Beverley thinks that getting Kawhi Leonard on the team would be “like hitting the lottery”.
A TMZ Sports reporter caught up with Patrick Beverley this morning in Beverly Hills, and immediately popped the question on everyone’s minds.
“Can you imagine a scenario where [Kawhi Leonard] is on the Clippers?”
“Insane, right?” Beverley said. “Insane. You’re talking about Kawhi Leonard. The best defensive… you know, besides myself, best defensive guard in the NBA… we’d hit the lottery with that.”
Beverley still had praise for the current roster, however, later stating that he likes the team he has now, and that they could cause some serious trouble when they’re healthy — specifically mentioning Danilo Gallinari.
Obviously, a team consisting of Leonard, Beverley, and perhaps even DeAndre Jordan would rank among the best defensive units in the league. And with Leonard’s fallout with the Spurs organization, getting him to Los Angeles certainly seems plausible.
However, recent reports suggest that the Spurs may not be open to trading their two-way star. In that case, the Clippers would have to wait until Leonard becomes a free agent in 2019 or 2020, depending on whether or not he opts-in to his player option.
But like Beverley said, getting Leonard to Los Angeles would be like hitting the lottery. Leonard is a superstar, and when healthy is undoubtedly a top-10 player. And while he’s known primarily for being a superb defender, Leonard’s offensive game is just as potent.
He converted a career-best 44.3% of his three-point attempts in the 2015-2016 season, and averaged 25.5 points per game the next.
With Leonard in LA, the Clippers could immediately thrust themselves back into title contention. Under the direction of Doc Rivers and Co., the sky would be the limit — so long as they all stay healthy.