Clippers Rebuild: Kawhi Leonard Stays, But Big Changes Sweep The Team

Since the 2019 offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers have been among the most active teams regarding player movement. Whether it was acquiring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in one fell swoop, trading away the core after the Bubble, or adding two former MVPs in Russell Westbrook and James Harden, owner Steve Balmer hasn’t been shy in mixing things up.

However, their current core seems to be coming to an end. With Day 1 of free agency closing, the roster looks vastly different from last season. Two key contributors, PG and Russ, are effectively off the team. But the team has quickly pivoted with some other quality additions.

Let’s look at what the summer of 2024 has in store for LA’s “other” team.

What the Los Angeles Clippers offseason looks like

After Kawhi Leonard finished his first season playing over 70 games in a Clippers jersey, the team signed him to a 3-year extension. But, with injury rendering him unplayable, the team fell in 6 games to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

Since then, there have been months of debates and rumors about the organization’s future. With a new $2 billion area under construction, Balmer has cashed in all of his chips. However, it looks like the team is finally starting to tighten up.

The news became official after months of rumors about growing dissent between George and the team on contract negotiations. George was opting out and wouldn’t resign with Los Angeles. The chief concern was the contract length (Paul wanted four years, but the Clippers weren’t willing to budge beyond three). A new look was coming to the Intuit Dome.

Immediately, the team pivoted in a different direction, locking up James Harden on a two-year, $70 million deal. The team found a cheap offer for Derrick Jones Jr. at three years and $30 million to replace the wing depth. Then, in a highly controversial move, the team dished out a two-year deal to Kevin Porter Jr. months after the domestic abuse case against him. Further, PJ Tucker, essentially a DNP Coach’s Decision last season, returned to the team after taking up his player option.

However, the team made another big decision. They parted ways with Westbrook, allowing him to pursue another team for next season. In the aftermath, Russ seems to have mutual interest with the Denver Nuggets after they lost out on retaining Kentavious Caldwell Pope.

What the rest of free agency could look like for the Clippers

Thanks to the ginormous contracts for Kawhi and Harden, the team was already short of cap space. But, the 5 contracts in the $10-20 million range effectively act as a max contract. As a result, the team is short on funds to add an impact player to their roster.

Moreover, on paper, the team feels complete without major flaws, except for a backup center. However, losing a 10-time All-Star like Paul George and a former MVP in Russ is big. Expect the rest of the summer for Los Angeles to include fringe deals like the ones for Porter and Jones to shore up their shooting and find a quality replacement for Mason Plumlee.

Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.

Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network