No team in the NBA is on the precipice of either doom or salvation the way the LA Clippers are. With the departure of James Harden and the fallout from the Kawhi Leonard situation ready to hit, things could get really ugly. Or it could all be an opportunity to embrace a full-on rebuild of the franchise.
If you forgot that the NBA has hung the Sword of Damocles right above the Clippers' collective heads, you could be forgiven for that. It's been months since the accusations of management circumventing the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard extra money dropped. Adam Silver hasn't forgotten, though.
The Clippers are widely expected to face some sort of punishment for the move. It could include financial penalties, a loss of draft picks, and likely the voiding of Leonard's contract with the franchise. It would immediately make him a free agent who could sign with any other team.
Adding to the misery was the suddenness of James Harden leaving. Just before the trade deadline, he requested a trade, which is on brand for him, and headed to Cleveland. Ivica Zubac was also traded, and they sent Chris Paul home earlier in the season. It's a period of huge upheaval for the Clippers.
The Clippers need to lean into the chaos
It's not all bad news. The current scuttlebutt is that the league may not strip the Clips of any draft picks and will instead focus on ending Leonard's contract alongside potential financial penalties. This could be the best-case scenario for Los Angeles' second favorite NBA franchise.
In this reality, the Clippers suddenly find themselves freed of some of their biggest contracts, yet still have draft picks to work with. This provides them with an opportunity to start a full rebuild process utilizing solid players they already have on the roster.
As part of their recent trades, they picked up both Benedict Mathurin and Darius Garland who could pair well as the core of a rebuild with Bogdan Bogdanovic. The Clips have an additional eight players who have been in the league four years or less. There is some real potential in that group.
Sure, the Clippers will need to lose at least Nicolas Batum, Brook Lopez, and the eternally injured Bradley Beal. Two of those players are likely to retire soon anyway. Regardless, there's no sense in moping about the Leonard situation. Take advantage of it to build towards a better future.