It hasn’t been the smoothest offseason for the Golden State Warriors with their lingering Jonathan Kuminga drama. However, they’ll a minimum of say they do not have the identical issues that their rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers, have this summer time.
The Clippers are below investigation for alleged wage cap circumvention as a result of having paid star Kawhi Leonard as much as $50 million off the books. If confirmed true, then they may very well be in for a world of harm. Warriors followers like to see it.
Whereas followers doubtless are at their wits’ finish because of the ever-changing information involving Kuminga, they’ll a minimum of say that Golden State is not vulnerable to dropping all the things. The Clippers may very well be stripped of all of their remaining first-round picks, as much as 5 picks.
If that occurs, then they won’t have a choose for the following eight years. Then there’s what may occur with Leonard.
The Golden State Warriors can not help however snort on the Clippers
The Clippers actually risked all the things to deliver Leonard in and have solely a visit to the Western Convention Finals to indicate for it. Examine that to the Warriors, who’ve 4 championships and 6 journeys to the NBA Finals within the final 10 years.
The Clippers have not had wherever close to that stage of success over their 55-year historical past. They’ve arguably been the worst workforce in NBA historical past, and but they’re by some means simply now flirting with hitting all-time low.
It is even potential that the workforce they constructed round Leonard may very well be in danger if the league opts to void his contract. That will be the icing on the cake for Golden State, who would like to land Leonard if that had been to occur.
The Warriors may gain advantage from the Clippers’ misfortune
The Warriors would not be alone in hoping that Leonard turns into accessible in the course of the season. If he does, then he may doubtlessly signal with Golden State, which is about 4 hours away from Los Angeles.
They doubtless could not preserve him in the long run. However, bringing him in on a one-year deal and pairing him with Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry, and Draymond Inexperienced may give them the proper alternative to win one more championship within the Clippers’ faces. Nonetheless, quite a lot of shifting components must occur for that to change into a actuality.
First, the league must discover wrongdoing that may rise to the extent of voiding Leonard’s contract. Second, the Warriors must beat out the opposite groups hoping to land Leonard subsequent season to make it worthwhile.
In that situation, the Warriors would doubtlessly have lower than half a season with Leonard to make it work. Nonetheless, that may be a superb drawback in the event that they by some means acquired their arms on Leonard.
Finally, the Clippers’ misfortunes doubtless put issues in perspective for the Warriors and their followers. The Warriors are nonetheless attempting to kind out the Kuminga standoff, however they’re in an infinitely higher state of affairs than the Clippers at present discover themselves in.
