While Kawhi Leonard‘s future remains unclear, the Clippers remain interested in the All-Star forward and have not abandoned the idea of pursuing him, ESPN’s Chris B. Haynes reports.
The Clippers have been loosely connected to Leonard since reports of his desire to be traded first emerged. However, the crosstown rival Lakers have been most heavily linked to the two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
The Lakers reportedly engaged the Spurs in talks for Leonard this week with young players such as Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram at the forefront of those discussions, though they haven’t been overly aggressive in those discussions in recent days, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (video link).
The Sixers and Celtics have been among the other teams in pursuit of Leonard. Despite an injury-riddled season in 2017/18 that limited him to just nine games, the Spurs forward remains one NBA’s elite two-way players.
Los Angeles has some cap flexibility available now that longtime center DeAndre Jordan has opted out of his deal has agreed to a deal with the Mavericks. It’s not clear what the Clippers would offer for Leonard, but they’d almost certainly need to include one or both of their 2018 picks (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jerome Robinson). Tobias Harris and Patrick Beverley are among the veterans on the roster with positive trade value.
Ultimately, with a future first-round pick committed to the Celtics, the Clippers will need to get creative to offer an enticing package for Leonard.
They’d have a one year whiff, kawhi wouldn’t stay there after a year with Marcin and Danilo as his sidekicks
Well i mean technically hes in la lol?
Clippers are just as good as lakers atm
Well no. Lakers haven’t done anything but cut Thomas Bryant and Tyler Ennis, clips traded Austin rivers for a stiff, got nothing for dj, are gonna lose Bradley and put Tobias Harris on the block. If you adjust where the paper clips are and where the fakers finished last year then I guess they’re the same.
They are? Why? Tobias has 1 year left on his deal and you’re going to have to send some players back to the Spurs in a trade for Kawhai. That would probably have to be Tobias or Lou Williams and maybe some picks. What would be left to play along side KL? At least the Lakers can say they would have someone left over from Ingram, Kouzma, Randle, Hart and Ball.
I agree with the previous reply. The Clippers have a lot of solid pieces, and a good coach. Kawhi would put them square in the middle of the playoff race, even if he ends up being a one year rental. They have a lot better players than Marcin and Danilo too. Tobias Harris is one of the most underrated players in the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a potential steal, and Lou Williams is 6th Man of the Year.
Technically, everyone from the 2018 draft is a potential steal since none of them have actually played yet.
Except Ayton, since only one team had the chance to draft him.
And Doncic, because he was pick number 3 and should have been picked number 12.
Who would the Clips offer that would be appealing to San Antonio? Kuzma plus Hart or Ingram (assuming Deng is thrown into the deal for salary filler) is better than what the Clippers can offer. And Harris is overrat
Overrated imo. He’s a volume scorer who has thrived on bad teams and doesn’t contribute a whole lot elsewhere aside from scoring.
Jerome Robinson, Patrick Beverly and Milos Teodosic to match salary, and a future first round pick
Clippers would get Pau Gasol for that package.
Deng isn’t necessary for the deal, nor would I think the Spurs would take on that contract.
If Lakers aren’t offering anything kawhi will go to the highest bidder. Clippers would need to bring in a third team I assume but this is a worse case scenario for the Lakers. LeBron and the youth will be good but in the west they need kawhi and another big gun to compete.
What do the Clippers really have to offer the Spurs and who do they feel they can bring in to surround Kawhi assuming that they would want to try and win with him immediately to keep him from going to the Lakers next season? Lob city is over. Rebuild.
What if Lebron signs with the Clippers and they trade for Kawhi. Wouldn’t the Lakers fans just love that.
LeBron won’t go to the Clippers
I ki indeed of agree but he does have a strong infatuation with the logo so you never know
Pop keeps saying he won’t trade Kawhi to a wesztern conference team. The Spurs have told the Celtics they want their best offer. Danny Ainge says until he’s physically cleared, ready to sign an extension, and the Spurs give them permission to talk to him, they don’t want him.
I have a hard time seeing Kawhi going to any L.A. team. Why would the Spurs trade him to the Lakers help create a super team division rival? I also do not think anyone really wants to play for the Clippers, I do not think Doc is that great of a coach and he has lost privileges with the team.
Love how triggered Laker fans get on Clipper articles lol with that said anything is possible. Most likely a third team and few sign and trades on Clips end.
I have said it many times, Kawhi to the Clippers, though I cannot see what good he is to them, but he will go there, now if they can get LBJ too, then game over.
That’s a sweet package, I think Alexander is third-best player in the draft. LAC is west but can’t yet out-compete SAS.
In LA, for Kawhi, Harrel is a match, Lou Williams & Danillo takes pressure off, & Clips will have room for a max.