Re-ranking the LA Clippers’ top free agent threats before June 30
No. 5: Sacramento Kings
Projected cap room: $59.1 million
Last time around, the Dallas Mavericks owned the No. 5 spot on our list. And while there’s still reason to consider them a threat, it’s hard to imagine them landing any of the free agents that the LA Clippers consider a top priority — that it, Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard.
Instead, the Mavericks want to spend their money elsewhere, namely on Kristaps Porzingis. The seven-footer was traded there during the 2018-2019 regular season, and although he never saw the floor due to an injury, The Athletic‘s Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the Mavericks are planning to offer him a full five-year max deal worth $158 million.
Dallas will still have money to spend following that signing, though while they were once rumored to be interested in Al Horford, the opposite appears to be true.
That takes us to the Sacramento Kings, a team that’s emerged as a serious challenger to land top free agent targets like Tobias Harris and, coincidentally, Horford.
There are rumors of a “mystery team” that is willing to offer Horford a four-year max, and now that the Mavericks have essentially backed out of that race, all signs point to either the Clippers or Kings. Both could have the capacity to sign him to his desired contract, and both have an obvious need at the center position.
Something that further tips this from the Kings, though, is that the team reportedly has no plans to re-sign Willie Cauley-Stein, who started in 81 games this past season. Who better than Horford to replace him?
The Kings, much like the Clippers, are an up-and-coming force in the Western Conference. Led by a tough young core, Sacramento plays quick basketball and can score with ease. They’re also in desperate need of a defensive anchor, and they could easily slide in and scoop Horford away from LA.
Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant aren’t considered to be in Sacramento’s plans, but because they have the money to sign another one of the Clippers’ top free agent interests, they land here at No. 5.