Summer recaps and predictions, also known as mock offseasons, are another one of the many reasons fans should remain excited and optimistic, even if the playoffs did not go according to plan. The LA Clippers were a first-round exit, again, but trade and free agency scenarios make these next few months suspenseful.
Furthermore, the Clippers have several moves they could make that lead in different directions. Of them all, James Harden comes first as he is one of the highest money-makers in LA. If his contract is not sorted, the front office is ultimately held in place.
Following an extension, trade, or utterly new contract for Harden comes the appropriate time for all else. This is where other signings can be made, and the mid-level exception can be spent.
No one knows how the Clippers' front office will perform this summer. Still, with speculation that the championship-contention era is not over, NBA insider Yossi Gozlan put together his version of LA's most notable moves this summer.
After one look at Gozlan's predictions, it is safe to say that most of the transactions he anticipates the Clippers making will break the hearts of fans.
Yossi Gozlan's latest has the LA Clippers doing the unthinkable with what they have to utilize this summer
The LA Clippers have a bit of money to spend, and Yossi Gozlan has the front office using it in the wrong way. Within the segment he does for every NBA team, Gozlan predicts that the Clippers will extend James Harden (four-year, $152 million) and Norman Powell (three-year, $72 million).
The concept of having Harden and Powell paying Harden and Powell is not bad, but having them under contract until they are in their late 30s is terrifying.
Next, Gozlan projects LA trading Bogdan Bogdanović, Drew Eubanks, and Kris Dunn to TD Garden for the defensive specialties of Jrue Holiday. This is one of the few moves from his recap that seem logical, as Holiday is still an elite two-way guard.
Though there are other decisions covered, such as the mid-level exception being used on Clint Capela and Malcolm Brogdon, the most heartbreaking move from Gozlan, by far, is the Clippers trading Batum in what will likely be his last season.
His rationale is to save money, but no type of dollar sign should interfere with Batum's 18th year. He has done more than enough for the Clippers and deserves all the respect and flowers from LA's front office and fanbase.