The offseason additions made by the LA Clippers put them firmly in the discussion of being among the very best teams in the Western Conference for next NBA season. And in making all the additions they have so far this summer, the Clippers have really given Kawhi Leonard an ideal scenario by positioning him around a ton of veteran, proven talent.
When you're a team that's firmly in win-now mode like Los Angeles is, acquiring players that have been there and done that is of the utmost importance. Realistically, you don't have the time to be trying to get a bunch of young prospects to pan out, especially if they're guys taken later in the draft. What you need is players that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt are going to contribute to wins in the here and now.
That thought process was clearly at the forefront of the Clippers' decision-makers as they made big roster decisions over the last several months. Out with the unproven guys with upside, in with the players that are known needle-movers everywhere they go. No fooling around, just careful and intentional moves to get established talent.
John Collins, Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal and Chris Paul represent four extremely experienced guys with a wide range of individual talents. Collins and Lopez are both going to be dynamic forces on the interior for different reasons. Lopez for his dominant interior defense, Collins for his athletic ability, and both for their shooting prowess.
The Clippers' offseason moves will massively benefit Kawhi Leonard
Beal will be a tremendous help in taking away some of the on-ball reps from James Harden and Leonard and helping them conserve some of their energy throughout the regular season. As for Chris Paul, he's not only a culture-setter but also one of the smartest veterans in basketball. LA's front office has really had a slam dunk of an offseason so far, as we head into September and the final stretch of the summer.
At the end of the day, this is the ideal scenario for Kawhi Leonard and the one that will allow his talents to be amplified the most. Unfortunately, this isn't the Kawhi of 2021 anymore. His body has taken quite a few more hits and he's battled through more than one serious injury since then. As such, he simply can't be relied on too heavily in the regular season.
And really, if you think about it, the seasons where Leonard took home Finals MVPs in 2014 and 2019 were both ones where he was surrounded by rosters rich with talented veterans. It's probably not a stretch to say replicating that kind of model with the Clippers has been something he's been hoping for.
Ultimately, the priority has to be making sure Leonard can be healthy by the time the playoffs roll around, and that's exactly what the Clippers were aiming for with these moves they've made this offseason. These guys are all more than worthwhile contributors who will balance out the roster and give Los Angeles a fighting chance to be fully healthy all the way through the season. It's their best chance of reaching their potential.