Rumor: LA Clippers exploring pairing of Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler

According to rumors, the LA Clippers are interested in exploring pairing Kawhi Leonard with Jimmy Butler once free agency begins on June 30.

The beginning of free agency is less than a day away now, and rumors are ramping up regarding the LA Clippers and their free agent targets. One of their plans, according to the New York Times‘ Marc Stein, is pairing Kawhi Leonard with swingman Jimmy Butler.

On Saturday night, Stein wrote on Twitter that the Clippers are “exploring the feasibility” of signing both players in free agency and that Leonard reportedly wants to play with a “top-flight free agent” if he chooses to leave the Toronto Raptors.

That certainly opens the door for the LA Clippers, who could have enough cap room to take on both Leonard and Butler’s contracts if they find a way to move Danilo Gallinari‘s contract (which there may already be a move in the works for).

Both Leonard and Butler make sense for the Clippers individually, though it would make even more sense for them to come in together. Both are excellent two-way players and have a drive to win, which are two things that the Clippers have made a priority with their free agent signings and trade acquisitions over the last few seasons.

It’s not surprising to see Leonard’s name here, since the Clippers have been enamored with adding him to their roster as far back as last summer. But Butler’s name is a bit more of a shock, since LA has seemed to be more into Kevin Durant as of late.

Just this morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne reported that Leonard and Durant have discussed teaming up this offseason, potentially for the LA Clippers. By signing there, the two could re-ignite the Los Angeles rivalry between themselves and Los Angeles Lakers and pose the biggest threat to their title chances.

A pairing of Durant and Leonard is a considerably more talented combination, but it’s not hard to argue that Leonard and Butler would be a better fit with the Clippers. The team appears to be focused on adding two-way players that can hit consistently from three-point range, and while Durant is one of the most gifted offensive players in basketball, Butler’s two-way ability ranks among the best in the league.

If Leonard is most determined to join another star in free agency, the Clippers, Lakers, Raptors and New York Knicks all make the most sense as landing destinations. The Lakers can offer him a chance to play with two of the best players in basketball, the Raptors could give him a chance to repeat as an NBA champion, and the Knicks have the capacity to sign a superstar free agent of Leonard’s choosing.

Meanwhile, Butler and Durant could also end up on numerous other squads in free agency. Butler has been linked to the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat as recently as this evening, while Durant is rumored to meet with the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Knicks and Clippers once free agency begins on June 30.

Regardless of what happens on Sunday, it seems as though the LA Clippers will have no shortage of potential free agents to offer contracts.