LA Clippers: 3 big time free agents to target next offseason

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Jul 20, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during game six of the 2021 NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 big time free agent for the LA Clippers to target next offseason: Deandre Ayton

Unfortunately, we as LA Clippers fans know Deandre Ayton a little too well. He caught the ‘Valley-Oop’ that beat us late in Game 2 in the Western Conference Finals, and had a great series.

We could use a true center like that who can hold it down in the paint on both ends. Ayton would be the best center on the Clippers by a landslide, and Ibaka’s only getting older. Zubac isn’t old, but he likely won’t be better than Ayton by next offseason, either.

That’s the thing about Ayton that’s scary. He’s only 23, and he’s only getting better. He was the Suns most consistent player this postseason, and had really nice cumulative numbers as well.

He averaged 15.8 points per game, along with 11.8 rebounds per game. He averaged 1.1 block every game, and really shined against a team who we’re going to be competing with for a while in the Los Angeles Lakers.

Again, the Clips aren’t heavy on bigs, and Ayton would make the team much better in every way if he were here for the 2022-2023 season.

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All three of these guys could benefit our team, and should absolutely be on our radar starting now.