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2019 NBA free agency: Ranking Jimmy Butler’s best landing spots

By Daniel Lubofsky

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 9: Jimmy Butler #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts to a play against the Toronto Raptors during Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers shocked the NBA world with their play this past season.

Despite having rid themselves of a past Big Three and even shipping away leading scorer Tobias Harris at the deadline, LA managed to finish off the regular season with 48 wins and No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.

Once there, the Clippers managed to take the Golden State Warriors a surprising six games, including two victories at Oracle Arena. Many had dismissed their regular season play as a gimmick, but their results in the postseason truly put the rest of the league on notice.

Currently, with room for one, they have the potential to create two max contract slots. This bid is not wishful thinking on the part of the organization.

Despite posing as the other team in Los Angeles, the Clippers are expected to go hard after the top free agents and come away winners in some form.

While not pockets-deep with talent, LA still has an assortment of high-end role players along with up-and-coming talent. It’s a roster with depth across the board, but one lacking at the top, which is perfect for a guy like Butler.

His no-nonsense all-out effort would mesh perfectly with the identity the Clippers have built over the last couple of years as a competitive team without the expected talent.

Head coach Doc Rivers brings championship experience to the table and is sure to form a bond with a player whose intensity is never in question.

The Clippers may be in the market for a second star while the city of Los Angeles has proven to be a great living situation for most human beings on the planet.

Even if another top free agent was to be brought in, Butler wouldn’t have to sacrifice much as, at worst, the second option on what would be a contending team.

The purple and gold may present the ideal path to a championship. For Butler, it’s the Clippers who offer all the benefits of LA without having to sacrifice both money and opportunities in order to contend at a high level.

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