10. The Los Angeles Clippers will strike out in free agency
The Los Angeles Clippers may have two max slots, but even with their feel-good 2018-19 season, a superior front office compared to the other L.A. franchise and the advantage of being located in one of the best markets in the NBA, they still might miss out on all the top names.
With that much cap space, the Clippers won’t come up completely empty-handed. Even if they miss out on the elite, superstar free agents, they’ll have plenty of room to splurge on the second- or third-tier guys once the major dominoes fall. Unfortunately, the Clippers are starting to feel like the odd man out in the running for most of the top free agents.
Kevin Durant is an option, but has $57 million more reasons to re-sign with the Golden State Warriors than any other team, and he’s been continually tied to both New York franchises. Kawhi Leonard seemed like a guaranteed acquisition not long ago, but then the Toronto Raptors won a championship and the Los Angeles Lakers orchestrated the Anthony Davis trade while freeing up max cap room for a third star. A pitch of “create the greatest Big 3 ever” is fairly compelling.
Galaxy brain take: Clippers are the new Mavericks in that top-tier free agents are going to use their available cap space as leverage to get what they want from other teams and thus the Clippers are going to strikeout on the top-tier guys. It's all a threat to get deals.
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) June 27, 2019
Kyrie Irving might as well be wearing Brooklyn Nets colors already. Klay Thompson, despite “interest” in the Clippers, isn’t going anywhere. Jimmy Butler seems like a safe bet to either re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers or push for a sign-and-trade to the Houston Rockets. Kemba Walker is reportedly going to the Boston Celtics. Tobias Harris has like eight other suitors, all of which didn’t just trade him at the deadline this year.
The Clippers have as good a case for max-level players as anyone, but it’s feeling like they’re about to come up empty as they scout the top of the food chain.