When Kawhi Leonard left the Raptors for the Clippers in 2019, he did so in large part because he wanted to return home to Los Angeles.
If Leonard had been prioritizing his ability to keep racking up championships, he may have remained in Toronto, where the Raptors were coming off a 2019 title and were in position to keep it rolling, or joined forces with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on L.A.’s other team, the Lakers.
Even after losing Leonard and Danny Green – who had expressed interest in returning to the Raptors if Kawhi did – Toronto pushed the Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2020. James and Davis, of course, led the Lakers to a championship in the Orlando bubble.
Leonard’s decision to prioritize family and comfort rather than trying to maximize his ability to win titles is certainly defensible, especially for a player who had already secured two championships. And it’s not as if he was joining an also-ran by signing with the Clippers — the addition of Kawhi and a trade for Paul George made them legitimate title contenders as well.
However, the Clips were unexpectedly eliminated in the second round of the 2020 postseason by the Nuggets, and now find themselves in a 2-0 hole in the first round in 2021, having lost two games at home to the Mavericks.
This series is far from over, and postgame comments from the likes of Leonard, George, and head coach Tyronn Lue on Tuesday stuck to a common theme: the Clippers aren’t concerned about their two-game deficit and remain confident in their abilities to pull out the series (link via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN).
But if the Clippers can’t complete the comeback and are knocked out in the first round, it will be a disaster for a franchise that seemingly tanked its way into a matchup with Dallas during the season’s final weekend. Presumably, the goal was to remain out of the Lakers’ side of the Western Conference bracket, but now the Clips are at risk of being eliminated two rounds before they could even face their L.A. rivals — and they find themselves in this situation just two months before Kawhi could turn down his 2021/22 player option and return to the free agent market.
There has long been a belief that Leonard is where he wants to be and that his free agency will be a mere formality. Sure, it makes sense for him to opt out, but only so he can sign maximize his earnings by signing a new deal with the Clippers now that he’ll be eligible for a maximum salary starting at 35% of the cap.
But a second consecutive playoff disappointment would introduce a whole lot more uncertainty into Leonard’s free agency decision. The Clippers mortgaged many of their future assets when they traded for George — would they have the pieces to continue making roster upgrades, and would those moves be enough to convince Kawhi that they’ll be title contenders going forward?
Again, it’s worth reiterating that being in Los Angeles was what Leonard wanted all along, and a move to the Lakers this offseason isn’t realistic. So even if the Mavs knock out the Clippers, we shouldn’t assume that the two-time Finals MVP will jump ship in search of a better on-court situation.
But Leonard will turn 30 next month, so if he wants to sign a long-term deal this summer, he’ll essentially be choosing where he wants to spend the rest of his prime. Will he feel confident making that sort of commitment to the Clippers after two disappointing playoff runs? Would a short-term contract with the Clips be more realistic?
It’s entirely possible that this discussion will seem silly in a few weeks if Leonard and the Clippers roar back against Dallas and make a deep postseason run. For now though, there’s a ton on the line for Steve Ballmer‘s franchise, and it’s worth considering what’s next for L.A. in a worst-case scenario.
What do you think? If the Clippers are eliminated in the first round, should we expect Leonard to look elsewhere in free agency? Or will his desire to be in Los Angeles ultimately win out, even if he signs a shorter-term deal with the Clippers?
Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
What if Clippers get swept in the first round?
Lakers and Celtics can find a way to get Kawhi
Knicks can sign him for absolutely free
Well not for free. For over 100 mill they could. He’s def not going to the Lakers or Celtics. Zero cap space for the Celts or Lakers. And the Clips will get swept if they keep letting Luka do whatever he wants and dictate the games the way he has been. Scary part is Luka only has 5 points in the 4th quarter and they still won both in the Lakers home court.
In 2018 nba draft
Jerry West and Doc Rivers took Jerome Robinson ahead of Michael Porter Jr
Was Paul George worth Shai and Gallo？
IMO
Clippers should not attach 1 first round pick
Michael Porter Jr also had back surgery and wasn’t going to b able to play. Hindsight it’s was bad. But at the time not many teams were willing to gamble on MJPs back injury. And it still took MPJ 3 years to turn into a serviceable starting quality player. One of ur dumbest “hot takes”. And that’s pretty bad
MPJ should have gone Top-5 regardless. Still pissed the Sixers didnt take him, even tho they got that Miami pick which landed Tobias. They could have used one of their own 1sts to complete that deal. Bridges/MPJ would have been great for the Sixers. A healthy MPJ probably would have went #1 overall to the Suns.
Opts out. Signs with the Knicks.
Nope
Warriors
They can trade Klay Thompson for Kawhi. Would the Clippers go for that?
Nope
If GSW can do an Oubre sign-and-trade for Kawhi then the FO would have made up for the blunder they made this season in not going for it.
There is no chance the Warriors could swing this in a way GSW fans want where you add Kawhi to SKD. The only way it happens is if dude would take the Tax payer MLE on a one year to super team it. GSW are way past the tax now so to fit Kawhi and get below you would need to send out both Wiggens and Klay. It would be Steph, Dray, Kawhi, and min contract scrubs the first season. You would have to get the rest of the roster down to 100M to fit a sign and trade under the hard cap Steph Dray Looney Wiseman is up to 80M.
Now trading for him after he flames out in NY, with the Knicks regressing everywhere else in a Wiggans + Wiseman trade, where the money works is a thing. GSW would love to send out Oubre in a S&T where they get nothing but an exemption so they can add a player during the next season without outgoing salary.
I think they went for it, injuries hurt, but blame them more for the roster construction to start where they could have gone a different route on the TE then Oubre, signed someone better then Wannamaker, and used the DPE for another vet like Alex Burks at 6M. Midseason what was really out there that was worth pushing in big chips, and could they have gotten any worthwhile vets later since they werent a buyout favorite. The team knew with Klay eating the amount of salary he is and not playing there were only so many options.
I was screaming for Alec Burks and JaVale McGee all year, if they had even those two they’d have finished in the top 4.
As for bringing up paying taxes, they just did one year of Oubre for like $80M all up – proving zero moves made by GSW will be made with money in mind, Lacob has said as much. That’s how the Kawhi deal could happen.
GSW: Kawhi (1 year), Steven Adams (2 years)
NOP: Wiseman (3 years)
LAC: Bradley Beal (2 years)
WSN: Wiggins (2 years), Mychal Mulder (1 year), GSW’s 1st rd this year, 2nd rounder next year, and 1st rounder the year after.
That’s how a Kawhi trade works, if you really want a title that year. Plus you can still do that Oubre sign-and-trade with a different player or an exemption, like you mentioned.
I’m not sure why people act like GSW are handcuffed, they have no dead money here, everyone is moveable. When they release Smiley and replace him with the return of old man Iggy, that will also be an upgrade.
Your not understanding the tax and S&T. SDK are 106M in a sign and trade they would be hard capped at 136M I believe since the pandemic has limited its rise. So they dont have the room with those 3 contracts to add another close to max vet. You also have to sign at least 10 more players so you have maybe 20M under what becomes a hard cap in the case of receiving a S&T player. The big 3s contracts were cheaper when they did this for Russell so they could fit it, but still the only player above the min was Looney besides them.
The rules for negotiating may allow them to propose to the Clips that they agree if Kawhi is being traded he opts into his final year and is dealt so they dont lose him for nothing. Then it would just be salary matching and luxury tax be damned. Also SF is the next closest team to LA outside the LA teams. You could S&T Oubre and Wiggans the other way or with a 3rd team and as long as the S&T is outgoing your not capped. I dont know if they would be allowed to propose this though. It almost would be easier to just trade for PG since his contract is moveable.
You’re wasting your time trying to explain the cap and luxury tax to Marty. He insisted for months that the Warriors would sign not just Kawhi but KD as well, ignoring the fact that their cap situation is so bad that every dollar they’d spend on them (because of the size of any potential deal) would actually cost something like $3.75 per $1 spent. So a $100 million deal would cost them something like $375 million considering the tax.
Despite being told this by several posters, he still insists on it. He’s got Warrior fan tunnel vision and is disconnected from reality.
Marty is not a Warriors fan. He just bitches to make it sounds like he knows something.
Agree rct, and while I recall him often mentioning McGee, I do not recall either “screaming for” or even advocacy of Alec Burks. Maybe years ago before he found a site that would not ban his dumpings.
@x%sure: haha, totally agree. Nobody was “screaming for” Burks, especially Marty. I’ve never even seen Marty mention Burks before right now.
So let me get this straight …Leonard, a guy who wants to control every single situation in which he goes too goes to a team that just put a top 3 player in the game (Durant) into the shadows bc he didnt take the “family we are one ” GSW approach ..Gotcha, makes perfect sense
Too add tho, Paul George now, is someone I could easily see being a Warrior…they’ve always loved him and even moreso his prototype
KL would have to go first to a different team but I think GSW could get PG with Wiggins +draft capital if that so happened and the Clippers just blew it up…
Think theres 100x better chance George being a warrior than KL next year
Clippers will clutch to both with all dear life regardless but its really all KL choice in the end…..LEONARD kinda controls next free agency…but lets wait till this series unfolds w Dallas …wining solves everything but I do think this can be a great offseason thread if they lose this series , I dont think its necessarily over yet, Dallas looks kinda gassed atm
Yeah with almost any of these stars they have to say they want the GSW or its probably a no go. There are lots of teams that could outbid them on someone, but if a star wont resign they can dictate the terms.
Cap & crunch, 2 good posts !!
no thanks to Paul George. the guy is a cancer. There is a reason why he goes from team to team. I rather have Wiggins bloated contract than Paul George pouting on the sidelines.
So 100x zero chance, yes, you are probably correct.
I do think they are less encumbered then people think in some ways. GSW could actually free up a couple first rounders that could be moved by removing the very light protections on the 2024 pick going to MEM. They have three 1st rounders of there own plus MIN they could move with this years player next years pick and the 2026/7 pick so they could build a package for a star.
The problem with Wiggans is he is slightly over payed. The other problem with Wiggans is that he is actually pretty good, so when you talk about deals for stars there arent as many as you would think where its an overall upgrade on W/W both present value and future upside. I would say its Kawhi, Doncic, Joker, Embiid, KD, LBJ, AD,Giannis, maybe Simmons/Butler/Beal/eh Harden:(/Levine I mean there just are only so many players that are a clear upgrade on Wiggans + Wiseman + pick values. Iggy has one more year on his deal and they will probably not decline it unless they need the cap room for a big signing.
You can see the start of a good rotation by mid season. I would honestly try and turn Wiseman into a stretch 4/5 hybrid. I think he is better in face up action then back to the basket moves, and he has the mobility on defense to guard 3/4s.
I would look at the rotation come all star break as this:
PG-Curry
SG-Klay
SF-Wiggans
PF-Wiseman
C-Dray on offense with Wiseman as a sniper/slasher who goes for more slash without the ball dunks then slow moving pick and roll feeds. Wiseman then is your defensive rebounder but Dray plays the QB on D. Wiseman if he can simplify his pre-shot to speed up his catch and shoots is impossible to block. If I’m them I try to turn Wiseman into KD 2.0 eventually so he is a big playing small ball.
2nd unit:
PG:Poole
SG: Jalen Suggs(after trading MIN+GSW 1st to move up to 3)
SF:Oubre/ or a new acquisition
PF:JTA
C:Looney
Reserves:
D-Lee
Paschall
Bazemore
Chriss (they need another big and MC will be cheap coming off the injury)
One more vet with experience that can be a backup PG
2-Ways
Mannion if he shows you some stuff in Summer league is worth another look esspecially if 2-ways go back to old rules.
Jessup on the second 2-way.
Thats a much deeper team then this year. You have a few assets left in future picks that could be freed up. Oubre bringing an TPE if he leaves would be big. they have the 5.2M MLE to use on the final 2nd unit spot. Klay getting back to something close to Stephs usage by end of season even if he is never fully what he was still slides a bunch of guys who were overmatched this year into roles that they are more suited to excel at.
You can look at Smily in LV SL, and pre season, and then make him one of your designated players for the G league. No reason you cant bring him back on a 2-way in a few years when he develops more and is like 22.
Chapman, this looks too similar to this year’s team that didn’t even make the playoffs. I think there be a lot more changes to the support of Steph Klay Dray. I’m thinking the roster will look quite a bit different.
Also I think you value Andrew Wiggins too high. The public opinion the Warriors and I put out is that he’s vastly improved and he get you 20 points a game etc etc. But I do not want to see him on the Warriors next year at all. He has to go. He is not a fourth quarter Western Conference Finals type player. He’s just not. Get him out of there.
He holds down a valuable Max salary slot and that’s why they have him and got him. But he definitely has to go I can’t watch him anymore. His stats look good and hopefully other GM’s are looking at that and not tape of him in the 4th quarter. He’s a guy that will get you 20, but he can’t get you 2.
My thinking is on the principle that the NBA is very very top heavy. When your number 3 has to be your number 2 and your number 6 has to be a 5 it really hurts. Klay moves everyone below him down, and I am talking about late season when min restrictions should be down. Also they have one Tax MLE and vet mins so I dont know who else is out there at the vet min that are better then Baze, MC, Paschall. They wont be a destination for deal taking ring chasers until they make some noise next season. If you can get someone better in those lower down spots sure do it, or if a star shakes loose get them. I think this is what I would bet on for a roster prediction contest since it is by far the most likely outcome.
Wiggans isnt a star but he is a top 40 player in the NBA, and only slightly overpaid. He is a perfectly serviceable role player on a contender. He doesnt have the trade value he currently does to the team so in a deal its him as salary filler and a bunch of assets. Would I deal Wiggans, Wiseman, and some picks for Siakam hells to the no. Sure you move Wiggans for a super star, but my point is Wiggans is good enough that you need a real deal super star like Embiid to make it worth it to deal him plus a ton. Wiggans for 30M/2 years would get offers all kinds. They have a catch 22 with Wiggans where your always over paying in any major trade because he is your only moveable large salary piece, everyone knows this and will make the GSW pay so much its the ultimate stars and scrubs roster. If he is a defensive stopper who plays more with the 2nd unit next year slashing and scoring on bench bigs he can thrive more. He is to good to throw away but not good enough for a lateral move.
Wow. A novelist.
Nope
Chapman all that and you did not get very far. GSW has to find someone who likes Wiggins as much & talk trade.
Anyway, Kawhi. Wait & see if they get Lowry.
None of the FA to be work since there is no way for them to absorb a salary and stay below the hard cap. The only deals that work are for players under contract already for next year or with an option so that they will be trade eligible and not need to be S&T.
Best upgrade would be making Wiseman an outside player who only pick and rolls when Drae is off the floor. Keep him from clogging the paint and teach him to stop stepping one foot in front of the line like he did on maybe 10 2pt 3s.
What ave do they have to get anything else? They have the parts for one big deal or tinkering while saving the powder for the next star.
I don’t see him going anywhere regardless. Everyone else on the Clippers? That’s a different story.
I agree I think Kawhi stays. If they lose I think they could trade PG though. Not sure what options there are out there.
Maybe if blazers are bounced early, they could move McCollum and Covington, plus another piece or 2 for PG.
Clippers want their star, and no other NBA team is going to tolerate forcing their organization to wait hours on the tarmac for the arrival of Leonard.
PG will get traded and the Clippers will be a guarenteed 2nd round loser for another 4 years before Leonard and the Clips figure it out.
The real mistake was in trading for PG. The team would have been much better with SGA, Gallinari, the rest of the cap space they had, and another roll player they could have acquired for say 3 of the 1st round picks they dealt for PG. They could have signed a different player in the Pat Bev spot if keeping SGA, and I think they would have had a much better roster. PG13 is just not better enough then SGA to justify weakening the roster in so many other areas.
I mean I think that would very much hinge on what other role players they signed. I like SGA as much as the next guy he’s nowhere near PG right now. And Gallo is an 8th man at this point.
Realistically, I think we all may be asking the wrong question. Did the Clippers build poorly *around* a guy, or did they just build around the wrong guy?
Pick any other season of the 2010’s — does that Toronto team win a ring? With all LBJ Cleveland/Miami teams, the entire Warriors run?
But once he won that ring in Toronto the narrative changed. Kawhi + stuff = Guaranteed Rings.
But what proof is there that should be the case? One Toronto season that was the outlier of the decade? The San Antonio years where he was probably not even the best player on the team?
Kawhi & George can be amazing but their attention has been sporatic.
SGA is steadier, even kind of under the radar, and would be a better influence on Kawhi… and is a guard.
I don’t see Kawhi & George benefitting each other. Same position, I have always said, but most people say they’re so good it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t until it does. Playoff BB reduces the pretenders.
Draymond called him from the parking lot after GSW was eliminated and told him “if you guys implode in the playoffs again, come join the Splash Bros and me.”
GUESS WHO’S IMPLODING??? :)
I don’t know.
He wants to be close to his family. That was even when he was on the spurs. We might’ve been blind to it, but he really used that injury fiasco to give him a good reason to leave the spurs, bc otherwise he would look like the bad guy against the honorable championship winning spurs front office. And that is his own choice, choosing to want to stay close to his family, nothing wrong with that. So I just don’t see him leaving the clippers bc it’s what he wants, he’ll do whatever he feels is necessary to make them better I guess it’s possible he could go to another team close to LA. But idk who has the cap space for that realistically. I’m not going to be surprised when he stays with the clippers. He’s won his championships, I don’t feel like he’s in a rush to win his next one.
I believe I called it at the start of the season.
Clippers will be great regular season, suck in the playoffs and Kawhi will be heavily reevaluating coming back.
I said he should go to Dallas, the team that’s currently beating his team 2-0. The Mavs have an MVP like player already in Doncic, they have one of the toughest big men to match up with in Porzingis and then a couple promising young guys and some shooters. They have a good coach and Mark Cuban is a great owner for a star player like Kawhi who doesn’t seek having loads of attention.
Kawhi said to the Clippers he wanted them to go get a point guard that can run the offence for them. That’s why they looked into Lowry and I’m guessing why they got Rondo. If Kawhi went to Dallas he would have Doncic who puts up 27-8-8 regularly, he’s had KP who isn’t putting up great numbers but at 7’4 and able to handle or shoot is a tough match up. Kawhi could play his amazing defence and be the second option offensively and the Mavs would be very very good.
Russ I’m 100 w ya !
Dallas is a great place for KL to end his career
Cuban is the perfect person to throw sheltered the roof over his head
Luka is a great player to deflect all the things KL doesn’t want to deal with .. I think we had this convo preseason as well if I memebr correctly
Kinda a match made in heaven Imo….Dallas wouldn’t even have to clear that much cash in order to make it happen
Pull the ole Durant, eh?
It makes sense. Kawhi offensively is better as a 2nd option.
If he went to Dallas they’d be almost instant favorites to win it all, regardless of what they do with KP.
This is a pretty good idea.
Buncha white guys for stars. Not “KL-homey”.
I doubt KL wants a PG to take over like Doncic does.
Just get him Lowery.
Would be hugely risky and very unlikely but would they think about trading KP?
He’s always injured and even when he’s not he’s just not the same player he was before the injury in NY.
KP would still have some good value in trades and it would add for to acquiring KL. Tell him come join us, we just kick you out the playoffs, we have a future MVP in Doncic who will run point and be the first option, he have a great owner and nice coach, plus we are willing to trade KP if you want someone else.
It would make Dallas so stacked, they would be favourites for the next 5 years. KL has always been better as a second option or in an offence not so reliant on him. It also is when he plays his best defence.
Maybe you don’t watch DAL very often but KP6 has been way better in his 2 years in DAL than he was in NYK before the injury… but probably that doesn’t fit your narrative, right?
Simm/Russ – I think Dallas would trade KP6 in a nanosecond if it meant they could get Kawhi. I think theyll look to move him regardless this offseason
Don – Have *you* been watching? He added a nice 30 footer to his game which is nice. But he can’t post up anyone and he’s generally a liability on defense. To top it off he and Luka seem to have a lukewarm relationship at best.
He’s staying regardless. His better chance to win last year was in Toronto, but he wanted to play in LA. He’s won a couple of titles, and I think he likes having his own team in his hometown more than looking for a 3rd ring.
Agreed. Although I don’t see that Toronto team going two in a row even if they ran it back. Maybe they make it out the East but that Lakers team last year would have handled them easily.
Raps beat Lakers twice that season. It would have been a walk in the park for them.
Yup.
@greg1…As it should be, right?
Fans are obsessed with rings, but Kawhi has 2, so 1-2 more makes no difference to him, been home & where you are happy is sooo much more important than winning!
IMO it would be a terrible look for him to leave just looking to chase more rings, very unprofessional if you ask me, right?
Why would Ballmer want him back is real question. How Freakin asinine do you have be to use Obrue and Kawhi in same sentence. if Clippers can’t beat Mavs. I would break up whole team. I do a complete rebuild from ground up. Do it OKC style and get all the picks I could. If I can get in top 5 this yr. There’s a future star, starter there. I go into new arena with a full rebuild. You do it right you can have a young talented playoff team 3-4 yrs from now. With a big future. There are no excuses for losing to Mavs. I clean house if I’m Ballmer.
Clean house, as in, let Kawhi walk for nothing.
First off he’s a FA. So he can walk if he wants to. He’d have to agree to a sign n trade. I’m not sweating it.
If he wants to go to a team of his choice then chances are it would involve a sign and trade. Few teams have that much cap space.
A bunch would have but several pivoted after Giannis signed lols!
Raptors is one but I think Ujiri is now waiting out a big trade offer from LAC for Lowry. Actually Miami’s Riley might too, another Giannis-dreamer.
Wally is correct, its most likely a S&T unless the Knicks get involved ….only place w space I could see as even a remote possibility
Yes you are right. He still would have to agree. My point is after two loses like this. I’m good with starting over. IMO Lue is the weak link here. They should of brought in DAntoni. Knicks can sign him. He’s excatly the player star we need. But why would he want to leave LA unfinished business. It just looks like they are going in wrong direction. And not many options to fix this.
If they flame out the Knicks will be in play for Kawhi 100%. Maybe not actually in play but every media outlet will speculate it lol.
But if he came here NY is right there with BK.
Buttholesurfer, that’s what the Clippers said. If Kawhi comes were right there with the Lakers LOL
Lue> D’Antoni (most overrated coach of all time); both are below average
NY and Dallas will have some. And could probably makes the moves to sign him outright if need be.
But S/T’s seem to be the trend.
Didn’t everybody just Loooovvveeee the Clippers like a week ago ?
People turn quick in here
For us who live out in LA this is just Tuesday for the franchise they call the Clippers
How’s Rondo doing? Pat Bev is an awful Nba player today. This team has No heart
Yes I have the Clippers or the Lakers coming out of the West. Who knew Tyronn Lue really couldn’t coach? This is probably last chance to prove he can before he becomes the Eternal assistant.
Lue can’t coach he is a player coach just lets the players do what they want. Clippers have no team chemistry is why they are so bad. kawahi is going back up North to sign with raptors. watch and see.
Im probably too close but I just never saw it with Clips, like ever –
Think Utah takes down Lakers in the Conf finals this year- {Lakers will not look good but PHX and next Rd just will have too many holes and let them escape; Utah ends the slide and the h8ers get their picnic
Rondo and Ibaka didn’t even play. Didn’t watch gm. Kennard was a dnp. I’m not really a Lue fan. This team should not be losing to Mavs. It’s that simple. You lose to Nuggets after being up 3-1. Now Mavs. I mean really who are these guys.
If they continue to play Beverly and Zubac major minutes they’ll keep losing.
How many times does Luka have to pick them apart? They scored like 6 points in 40 min combined last night. It’s dumb
Don’t oversimplify
In West, it takes 5 years to rebuild a playoffs team
For Rockets, it would be 7 years because they have cost saving program
Unless the teams have new Sam Hinkie
We’re talking about Kawhi, for all we know he could just decide he’s had enough and ride off into the sunset.
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Clips are actually talented enough to do it, but it’s still a form of insanity. Rivers’ passive reactive coaching style was the wrong one for this group. Lue is just Rivers, with a desire to see himself as proactive. At least he’ll try to X and O them out of the mess they’ve made of this series (vs Rivers “its up to you guys” approach). Lue’s real job (which he didn’t do) was to bring the team to a place where they could establish an identity. Grade (even if they come back in the series): D.
Regardless, they need to try and resign KL. If they can, delay a rebuild. Works since they’re unlikely to have high draft picks for awhile.
Kawhi probably goes to the Heat if he leaves.
An identity is one thing this team does not have. And Lue is just getting embarrassed by Carlisle (and Luka for that matter). How many layups are you going to let Beverly give LD down the stretch?
But to be fair they also don’t have a lot of talent beyond Kawhi, PH, and Serge.
Morris, Beverly, Jackson, Kennard, Zubac, Batum — I mean these guys are like all 7th 8th 9th guys at best with the exception of Z. But he’s unplayable (yet still somehow playing) in this series.
Imo they are TOO analytic thinking-
This position less “forward thinking” game style prevails in the reg season bc coaches don’t game plan regular season games . You get to 7 game series its a different animal
The PG position has not been addressed for 3 + years now… The problem is upstairs, I don’t throw this on Lue’s shoulders or even the players …..
Somehow the computer spit out to offer Luke Kennard 64 mill , troublesome … and there seems to be no back line of defense for these crazy endeavors upstairs
He won’t go to Houston! That’s a lock.
Couldn’t be happening to a better team ! A fraudulent contender the clippers are that aren’t the least bit likable or redeemable unless you’re a clippers fan ! I also don’t hold them to a high standard I fully expected and understand zero titles for the Kawhi and Pandora Pete clippers
Uncle Dennis says, take your talents to South Beach.
But clippers have dog in them…