What happens if the LA Clippers strike out in free agency?

The LA Clippers are all but set up to make a run at two max-level free agents this summer, but what will happen if no one comes to Los Angeles?

If all goes according to plan for the LA Clippers, this summer could be the most franchise-altering to date. With players like Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant in their sights, the Clippers could realistically become a title contender as soon as next season, and for as long as their contract keeps them in Los Angeles.

However, this summer also brings great opportunity for disappointment. A player of that caliber signing with the Clippers is far from a given, and there are more than a few scenarios in which LA doesn’t sign anyone of tremendous value later this month. And if we’re being perfectly honest, the chances of that happening seem higher than the chances that the Clippers actually do sign someone.

It would be a tough situation to stomach. After all, fans have been talking about what the upcoming season’s team could look like for some time now, and it would be frustrating if none of those desires came true.

So then, that begs the question: What happens if the LA Clippers strike out in free agency?

To answer that, we first need to define what “striking out” would actually be.

Depending on how hopeful each fan is, “striking out” is going to mean something different. For optimists, striking out is going to mean not signing Leonard, Durant or any other max-level player this summer. For others, it may just mean staying stagnant and avoiding a drastic improvement. The good news is, regardless of what happens in the upcoming weeks, it’s hard to imagine the Clippers taking too far of a step back.

That’s because, if the Clippers do miss out on signing a Leonard or a Durant this summer, they’re expected to repeat the same strategy they used last summer, which ended up working out quite well for them in the end.

That is, signing plenty of good veterans to cheap, one-year deals in order to remain as competitive as possible and maximize cap space for the following class of free agents. Eventually, one is bound to sign with LA, and then the Clippers can go from there.

Obviously, it would be best if this plan worked out in the Clippers’ favor this summer as opposed to those that follow. The available free agents this year include some of the best players in basketball, like Leonard and Durant. The 2020 class is comparatively weak, with very little to offer outside of Anthony Davis and DeMar DeRozan. 2021 is a different story, with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Paul George all potentially being available, but it seems as though the Clippers would prefer to sign their man now rather than wait around a few years.

The Clippers could also take the trade route this summer if they come up empty with free agents, though mortgaging the future may not be the move they want to make. It’s already been reported that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is off the table in any potential trade, so fans won’t need to worry about him disappearing this summer.

If the LA Clippers don’t land a superstar this summer, running it back seems like the most likely scenario, with a few new additions to the roster. No matter what, the indication seems to be that they’ll do whatever they can to remain competitive with the best of the Western Conference.