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Re-ranking the LA Clippers’ top free agent threats before June 30

By Garrett Chorpenning

LA Clippers (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LA Clippers (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 4: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers defends Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 4, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 4: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers defends Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 4, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Earlier this month, we ranked the LA Clippers’ top threats in free agency. Now, with all of the new information, we go back and do it again.

When we first ran a story ranking the LA Clippers’ top free agent threats earlier this month, there was plenty different across the NBA landscape.

The Toronto Raptors still weren’t NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers hadn’t yet acquired Anthony Davis or traded away a bulk of their young core in the process, and Kevin Durant was primed to make his return, before eventually rupturing his achilles and being sidelined for the upcoming season.

Most importantly, though, was that Kawhi Leonard didn’t have a significant reason to return to Toronto just yet. Back then, the LA Clippers were still the favorite, far and away, to sign him once free agency began at the end of June.

Something else worth noting: The Los Angeles Lakers still had not opened up a third max spot. And while it’s looking like they could be depleted of any sort of depth this upcoming season, three superstars is three superstars, and when one of them could end up being Leonard, that’s going to have them climbing high on our rankings.

All the while, the LA Clippers have presumably been moving in silence. We’ve heard absolutely nothing on their end all month, and the only moves they’ve made have been to trade up for the No. 27 pick in the NBA Draft and to select Terance Mann with their own 48th.

The odds of the Clippers signing two max-level players also seems more and more unlikely as the days go by, as it would take trading Danilo Gallinari to clear that second max spot, and well, that still hasn’t happened. Obviously there’s still time, but some potential suitors are likely out on Gallinari now that they’ve made their own trades (i.e. Atlanta).

There is still plenty of hope for LA outside of Leonard — Durant still seems like a possible target, and Al Horford could be a sneaky signing that could vault the Clippers even higher in the standings than they managed last season.

Without getting too far into things, let’s jump to No. 5, where a new team appears in our rankings.

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