Clipperholics
Fansided

Los Angeles Clippers: History of Free Agent Delusion

Kobe Bryant and general manager Mitch Kupchak answer questions during a press conference held at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, Calif.. Thursday, July 15, 2004. Bryant chose the Lakers over the Clippers, remaining with the team he joined in 1996 at age 18 and later helped win three NBA championships. (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage)
Kobe Bryant and general manager Mitch Kupchak answer questions during a press conference held at the Lakers training facility in El Segundo, Calif.. Thursday, July 15, 2004. Bryant chose the Lakers over the Clippers, remaining with the team he joined in 1996 at age 18 and later helped win three NBA championships. (Photo by Steve Grayson/WireImage)
5 of 6
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 2: Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the game on March 2, 2016 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 2: Kevin Durant #35 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends the ball against the Los Angeles Clippers during the game on March 2, 2016 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Andrew Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kevin Durant – 2016

When the Clippers got a meeting with Kevin Durant in 2016, fans viewed it as a tip of the hat as they were in a big market and a potential title contender (with KD).  Clipper fans did not expect to get KD  because it meant they would probably need to trade Blake Griffin, and Kevin Durant would likely not want to be on a team without Griffin. Surprisingly, the Clippers pitched to Durant with the vision of a big four where they would trade Redick and not resign any of their free agents (Rivers, Crawford, and Johnson).

Clippers fans only began to slightly buy-in when Durant was “blown away” with the Clippers four-hour pitch. Quickly thereafter fans learned they were out of the hunt when the Clippers announced the resigning of Rivers, Johnson, and Crawford. At least they finished in third place.

Home/Clippers News