Clipperholics
Fansided

Identifying the LA Clippers’ top targets ahead of free agency

By Garrett Chorpenning

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 19: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 19, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 19: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 19, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

No. 1: Kawhi Leonard

2018-2019 statistics: 26.6 PTS, 7.3 REB, 3.3 AST

It should come as no surprise that Kawhi Leonard tops our list, after he just put together one of the most impressive individual postseason runs in recent history.

That’s not to discount the rest of the Toronto Raptors — disrespecting their depth would be as bad as doing the same about the LA Clippers — but it’s clear they wouldn’t have gotten to the Finals or won the title without Leonard’s efforts.

The 28-year-old poured in 30.5 points per game in the playoffs, shooting 49 percent from the floor and 38 percent from three-point range. He also got to the line several times per game, attempting an average of nine shots from the stripe per game and taking as many as 16 in a single game. Leonard connected on 88.4 percent of such attempts, and missed just six in the NBA Finals.

Of all the players on our list, Leonard also seems to be the best fit with what the Clippers have going on. With a gritty, do-anything-to-win attitude, Leonard’s style of play is exactly what LA has been lacking over the last few seasons. Adding him would likely make them an instant title contender.

Leonard will reportedly consider the Lakers, Clippers and Raptors in free agency, with the latter two seeming to be the more likely landing destinations. With the Lakers, he could join the duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while the Clippers could provide him the opportunity to choose a player that he desires to team up with. The Raptors could arguably provide the best chance to repeat as NBA champions, but Leonard would have to make a permanent move to Toronto in that case — something that he may not want to do.

Next. Why a Kawhi/KD pairing makes most sense on the LA Clippers. dark

No one can say for sure what Leonard is going to do this summer, or any of the other free agents on our list, for that matter. There are several scenarios in which none of them come to play for the LA Clippers, but it seems more likely than not that at least one of them could be on their way to Los Angeles. Regardless of what happens, the franchise’s front office is sure to keep the fans in good hands.

Home/Clippers News