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No workforce within the NBA is on the precipice of both doom or salvation the way in which the LA Clippers are. With the departure of James Harden and the fallout from the Kawhi Leonard scenario able to hit, issues may get actually ugly. Or it may all be a possibility to embrace a full-on rebuild of the franchise.
In case you forgot that the NBA has hung the Sword of Damocles proper above the Clippers’ collective heads, you can be forgiven for that. It has been months because the accusations of administration circumventing the wage cap to pay Kawhi Leonard more money dropped. Adam Silver hasn’t forgotten, although.
The Clippers are extensively anticipated to face some type of punishment for the transfer. It may embrace monetary penalties, a lack of draft picks, and sure the voiding of Leonard’s contract with the franchise. It will instantly make him a free agent who may signal with every other workforce.
Including to the distress was the suddenness of James Harden leaving. Simply earlier than the commerce deadline, he requested a commerce, which is on model for him, and headed to Cleveland. Ivica Zubac was additionally traded, and so they despatched Chris Paul house earlier within the season. It is a interval of giant upheaval for the Clippers.
The Clippers have to lean into the chaos
It isn’t all dangerous information. The present scuttlebutt is that the league could not strip the Clips of any draft picks and can as a substitute deal with ending Leonard’s contract alongside potential monetary penalties. This may very well be the best-case state of affairs for Los Angeles’ second favourite NBA franchise.
On this actuality, the Clippers all of the sudden discover themselves freed of a few of their largest contracts, but nonetheless have draft picks to work with. This gives them with a possibility to begin a full rebuild course of using strong gamers they have already got on the roster.
As a part of their current trades, they picked up each Benedict Mathurin and Darius Garland who may pair properly because the core of a rebuild with Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Clips have an extra eight gamers who’ve been within the league 4 years or much less. There’s some actual potential in that group.
Positive, the Clippers might want to lose not less than Nicolas Batum, Brook Lopez, and the eternally injured Bradley Beal. Two of these gamers are more likely to retire quickly anyway. Regardless, there is no sense in moping concerning the Leonard scenario. Reap the benefits of it to construct in the direction of a greater future.
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