LA Clippers: 3 Positional Needs If They Land Kawhi Leonard

TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 29: (EDITORS NOTE this image has been converted to black and white) Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors passes the ball during NBA Finals – Practice and Media Availability on May 29, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

While Kawhi Leonard is the ultimate goal this summer, the LA Clippers will have to fill three other positional needs if they land the superstar.

Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers are a pairing that has been talked about ad nauseum this season. Leonard has been labeled as the team’s number one target in free agency and they have gone through every hoop to try and recruit him without breaking the rules (even to the point of breaking them once).

But what happens when (really, if ) the team actually lands him? What is next?

The Clippers will need to address a few other needs in order to ensure they have the depth necessary to make a championship run.

First, we’ll take a look at the projected starting lineup and bench based on the players currently under contract and with the addition of Kawhi.

Starters

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – PG
Landry Shamet – SG
Kawhi Leonard – SF
Danilo Gallinari – PF
Ivica Zubac – C

Bench

Now, keep in mind, Zubac is a restricted free agent. Unless someone severely overpays, it’s hard to not see him return to the Clippers for at least one more year.

It’s clear that while landing a star is the biggest goal of the summer, the Clips will have several spots to add players. Navigating the salary cap will be tricky, so for now we’ll just focus on the type of player needed and name off a few potential free agents that the team may take a look at.