There may be simply no approach round it; the L.A. Clippers are a large number of epic proportions. They’re at the moment simply 6-19, do not personal their choose this yr or subsequent yr, and their greatest participant, Kawhi Leonard, solely performs part-time.
That’s not to say that each he and the Clippers are being investigated by the NBA over wage cap circumvention. The opposite shoe will drop in some unspecified time in the future, however the Clippers are in a foul spot proper now.
Sarcastically, plainly they not less than made one proper name, opting to not re-sign Paul George. Bear in mind, the Clippers are on this mess as a result of Leonard pushed them to commerce for George, with the outcomes being disastrous.
Happily, they not less than knew when to chop their losses. They let him go away for nothing in free company, and he signed a 4-year, $212 million take care of the Philadelphia 76ers. That transfer has appeared terrible to this point, with him averaging simply 15.9 factors per sport since becoming a member of the Sixers whereas making greater than $50 million per season.
Had the Clippers held onto George, as Leonard had needed, they’d be caught with one other ugly contract. That will have been particularly devastating in mild of latest occasions.
The Clippers are vindicated for refusing Kawhi Leonard’s want
The NBA’s looming investigation may presumably end result within the league taking all the Clippers’ remaining first-round picks, leaving them and not using a first till 2031. The one approach for them to get out of that mess is to filter cap area and rebuild by means of free company starting in 2027.
Had they held onto George, that seemingly would not even be an choice. Even so, the preliminary George commerce, which was pushed for by Leonard, set the Clippers again not less than a decade, and so they will not reside that commerce down for years to come back.
Clippers followers have Leonard to thank for that, and with the franchise spiraling and him out and in of the lineup, he seemingly hasn’t earned himself any new followers. L.A. will seemingly hand over a excessive lottery choose to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, who’ve an opportunity to win not less than 70 video games this season.
Often, it is the small-market groups getting taken benefit of by big-market groups. Nevertheless, the Clippers are the clear exception, with them having been bamboozled by each Leonard and the Thunder.
Happily, not less than L.A. did not chase a disastrous determination with one other by re-signing George, giving them not less than a glimmer of hope to finally construct a greater roster.
