Like the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers don’t act like it. On the surface, they’re cool, calm, and collected. Still, one can’t help but wonder if there’s an expression of panic under their mask.
Paul George, an all-around elite player, took his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers. To compensate for his loss, they brought back a banished player (Kevin Porter Jr.) and are hoping Norman Powell can help fill his shoes. James Harden re-signed, coming to training camp looking lean and mean. Yet, he hasn’t been the sharpest floor general this preseason.
Then there’s Kawhi Leonard, the face of their franchise. Leonard, far from the picture of perfect health, is still sidelined by knee problems. The Clippers will always retain optimism if given the opportunity. After all, why would they want to believe the worst about a player central to their championship aspirations?
However, at some point, Los Angeles will have to decide whether he should continue to be in their plans.
Should It Be All Kawhi Leonard On The Lakers Trade Front?
Whether Leonard is the likely to be the next star on the move can be debated. There’s a cornucopia of candidates for that mantle, with Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler’s name often thrown around. Yet, Leonard has reached a stage in his career where he’s more of the missing piece than the centerpiece. Though as talented as ever, no championship contender can rely on him as a No. 1 option.
Leonard’s salary — $149.5 million over the next three seasons — won’t be easy to move. Still, it’s possible, especially if the target is a two-time Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. In fact, every championship-contender around the league would likely have interest in Leonard, particularly the Lakers.
Kawhi to the Lakers?
If the Lakers only have to surrender two first-round picks and some combination of Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell for Leonard, it’s a win for the franchise. The acquisition may have them going smaller than Lakers head coach JJ Redick would like. Nonetheless, a frontcourt featuring Leonard, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis would click well.
More importantly, they would be able to get out from underneath players that they might have confidence but not a full-blown belief in. Players who could be holding the franchise back. To that point, there is strength in numbers. However, having top-end talent —players who can separate themselves in a game —is generally more important.
With that being said, Leonard is more important to the team’s success than Hachimura, Reaves, or Russell. Leonard’s technical precision, James’s speed and strength, and Davis’s ability to play above the rim are complementary. Leonard’s ability to guard the opponent’s best defensive player, James’s physical presence and mental acuity, and Davis’s mobility and instincts are as well.
His health will be a concern but his intangibles and ability to take over a game at either end are not.
Why Would The Clippers Do It?
Maybe it’s a pipe dream, especially with the Clippers’ desire to be out of the Lakers’ shadow. Their little brother might bite on the deal if they believe they can get the last laugh though, which may largely depend on how the Clippers view of the Lakers future. L.A.’s first round picks are projected to be pretty valuable after James retires.
With that being said, there’s a chance that the Clippers can compete for a title in the immediate aftermath of the trade. Harden has already alluded to the success Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic had playing his heliocentric style. To that point, if Russell and Hachimura were acquired by the Clippers, they would be able to play roles similar to the ones Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington play in Dallas.
James Harden on the new-look Clippers’ style of play this season: “It’s definitely going to involve a lot of me. There was talk when I was in Houston… ‘You can’t win like that.’ You just saw a guy [Luka Doncic] last season make the Finals playing the same exact way I played.” pic.twitter.com/X1x0zn2wpT
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) September 30, 2024
Should Harden be in MVP form —and this preseason has shown he might just be —they do have a shot at a long playoff run, especially if they continue playing staunch defense.
