The LA Clippers plan to get both Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant
The Toronto Raptors made their biggest statement this season when they beat the Golden-State Warriors at Oracle Arena without Kawhi Leonard. For the first time ever the Raptors are true title contenders and I expect them to make the Finals and fight the Warriors in a heavily contested series.
If the Raptors do reach the Finals and win it all then they can be pretty sure that their best player Kawhi Leonard won’t leave them in free-agency this summer. Toronto is Kawhi’s team, he’s only 27 and he could establish himself as their best ever player if he stays long-term.
Nothing is guaranteed though. If the Raptors fail to make the Finals or lose in them then Kawhi could leave for a bigger market in 7-8 months time. Leonard is a top 5 player in the NBA and it’s best 2-way player. He will have a tonne of offers once next summer rolls around.
One team that will fighting tooth and nail to get him are the LA Clippers. They only have around $60 million on the books for next season and so have enough cap space to sign 2 max offers. Kawhi is 1 target, the other is Kevin Durant.
Durant will be a free-agency next summer as he looks to win 3 titles in a row as well as 3 Finals MVPs with the Golden-State Warriors. Despite the Dubs being so good this is likely their last season together as a unit as locker room tension increases and contracts expire. The Warriors don’t have enough money to keep their stars together; at least 1 player has to go and Durant could be that guy.
Durant has solidified himself as a top 15 player of all time in my eyes but if he wants to crack the top 10 he needs to win a title away from the Warriors. Going to the Clippers would give him that chance and a huge contract to satisfy him financially.
The Clippers have been making some loud moves recently which heavily suggest they will be competing hard for Durant and Kawhi; they hired Jerry West who is known for being able to make a great sales pitch, they have cleared their books to have enough cap space and they’ve been sending executives to lots of Raptors and Warriors games to make their presence known. Don’t be surprised if next summer the Clippers sign both players and launch another dynasty to rock the NBA.