2019 NBA free agency: 5 potential landing spots for Shaun Livingston

1. Lost Angeles Clippers

How about going back to where it all began? When Livingston joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004, the franchise was a mess. Following 11 straight losing seasons, the city’s younger brother turned to the bright-eyed 18-year-old guard from Peoria to turn it around.

Livingston was probably better than most people remember in that early, three-year stretch in L.A. He averaged 5.0 assists his first season, 4.5 a night in his second and 5.1 per game his third — pretty good for playing under 30 minutes a night. The team even made the Western Conference semifinals in his second season, buoyed by a career year from Elton Brand.

But injuries hampered Livingston. He sat out 2007-08 after his knee essentially exploded, followed by years of wandering the deserts of professional basketball.

With his career resurrected, he’d return to a team under much better ownership than when he left it. It’s already primed to contend with two stars — one seeking to bring a franchise its first title for the second year in a row — and plenty of excellent role players.

Livingston would pair perfectly with the slender, dynamic scoring of Lou Williams off the bench. His laid-back personality jives well with fellow point guard Patrick Beverley, who is a maniac (the good kind). Plus, he knows how to navigate the postseason in the thorny Western Conference. This just seems to make perfect sense. Let’s see if the Clippers can make it happen.