The LA Clippers will be coming to a crossroads this NBA offseason. Do they run it back and hope to make a run for the elusive Larry O’Brien Trophy again in 2022? Or do they blow things up and reset the franchise?
The Kawhi Leonard free looming free agency decision will play a big part in what direction the franchise takes. There will be plenty of suitors for Leonard in free agency, as the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and New York Knicks could all make a run at him. As we’ve seen in the past, trying to predict what is going on in Leonard’s head is virtually impossible.
Dallas can create max cap space to pair Leonard up with Luka Doncic and he has a relationship with Nico Harrison, the Mavericks’ new general manager. The Heat doesn’t have max cap space but could execute a sign-and-trade as they did for Jimmy Butler. We know Leonard is a fan of Butler because he tried recruiting him to Hollywood before he went to South Beach.
The Knicks present a similar situation that the Clippers did when Leonard went there. They have the cap space to sign him and the assets to chase another star via trade if that is what it would take for him to sign.
READ MORE: Predictions for NBA Trade Rumors: Beal, Lillard, McCollum, Porzingis & Siakam
With all of this Leonard talk, it is easy to forget that the Clippers locked up Paul George to a long-term deal. While bringing the crew back for another run seems like the likeliest outcome, the Clippers have to be prepared for anything.
Here are three reasons the Clippers should consider trading Paul George this offseason.