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Fansided

March 1st Mailbag: Playoffs, Free Agency & More

By Ryan Snellings

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers dunks in front of Maximilian Kleber #42 and Salah Mejri #50 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at Staples Center on February 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 25: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers dunks in front of Maximilian Kleber #42 and Salah Mejri #50 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at Staples Center on February 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors look on during the game on November 29, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – NOVEMBER 29: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors look on during the game on November 29, 2018 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Which of the three?

Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, easily. I don’t want any part of Kyrie Irving, the drama he brings nor his baseless non-scientific statements. Besides, we have Shai.

Durant and Kawhi are the ideal pairing as they both give you offense and defense and make the team the instant championship favorite. Durant seems like an absolute long shot at this point, but never say never. Jerry West already impressed him once.

Realistic outcome? We get Kawhi and another guy like Vucevic or Khris Middleton.

Plan B

That’s a scary thought. Have you seen the free agent class of 2020? It’s nothing impressive. The biggest names that jump out are Draymond Green and Anthony Davis, who might already have been traded at that point and have a wink-wink deal to re-sign.

So, if the Clips manage to strike out on everyone, are they screwed? Not necessarily.

The team would still be ripe with assets and could position themselves to trade for a disgruntled star should one pop up.

We still have a couple of future first rounders from the Tobias Harris trade, so I would think the team tries to just stick to short deals to reserve at least one max cap spot for the next few seasons. Play a little Hinkie ball. If you aren’t competing, there is no harm in developing young players and seeing what happens. Just look at the Sacramento Kings over the past few years. It’s not the worst place to be.

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