LA Clippers: Why Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant would choose the Clippers
The LA Clippers find themselves in a very interesting situation with the real lottery happening on July 1st with the opening of Free Agency.
The LA Clippers, once a laughing-stock in the league, are now positioning themselves to make a splash in this year’s free agency. July 1st seems to become more and more a holiday each year and if you’re on Twitter, the “Woj Bombs” are massive bits of excitement for fans. NBA Twitter is a beast by itself but once free agency hits, get ready to see some fireworks.
Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant are still playing for their respective teams and while it would be sad to see them leave, the LA Clippers have made it known they want to win this offseason. The team has its work cut out for them and if they expect to make a splash, they will need to strike quickly. Time is of the essence and the gritty Clipper team that surprised everyone will likely have some new faces beginning next year.
New Look Clippers
If the Clippers want to make a splash, they will likely need to renounce a few players to remove their cap holds before they are able to sign a free agent. If the Clippers want to get a second max slot open, the team would need to move Danillo Gallinari to open the extra space needed for the second superstar.
While no one wants to say goodbye to this team, it was obvious the Clippers need to upgrade their roster to become a contender and not just a team that makes the playoffs. It will mean saying goodbye to some fan favorites.
Renouncing fan favorites is never easy, but the product put on the floor will be an upgrade from previous years if the team can make magic happen. Wilson Chandler, Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green will have to be renounced or traded away and not taking money back. If the Clippers are able to land two stars then expect big changes to the roster but still keeping together some really nice young pieces.
Why would they come?
Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant are in great places and it seems funny writing this since they could easily just re-sign with their respective teams. For Kawhi, moving could bring even bigger exposure being in a top market. The team is not going to just sell on market the on court product; they are going to sell on business opportunities and quality of life. Who wouldn’t want to be close to home and work with the richest owner in sports?
Kevin Durant’s pitch likely takes a different approach. He has his rings and his trophies. What he could cement is a legacy that is different from the one he is writing now. He could become the greatest Clipper ever by just helping the team get to the Western Conference Finals. Steve Balmer wants rings and a team known for being world-class and winning.
No one knows what they are thinking and it’s probably for the best to respect their current teams and run out their contracts. The Clippers have never been in a position like this to be a destination and if they make even one move it will be a shift from how it used to be in LA.
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The Clippers front office has work to do and they are ready to swing for the fences and you have to respect that. Putting your team in a position to be in these conversations is really all you can ask and then blow them away in the meeting. If the Clippers want two superstars, why can’t they be two of the top 3 or 4 players in the world?