2019 Clippers Free Agency Thread

With the trade deadline over and there Clippers having $59mm (potentially) in cap space this summer, what do you think we should do? We obviously have our eyes set on Kawhi which at a max contract would eat $33mm in cap space year one and give us around $26mm for another person. Who do we go after? It’s a tough call because we’d probably need another SF/Pf. Seems like Davis would fit in perfect with our team or maybe we go after Cousins?

Here’s the list of possible 2019 free agents

2019 NBA Free Agent List

Let’s hear your thoughts

I’ll start it off by saying let’s go after Kawhi for the max and then try to trade for Davis if we get a decent draft pick. Or go for Kawhi at the max and then Cousins starting at around $25mm/year

My hope is one of those max players convinces another one to join up and then make the numbers work. With a lot of players on the move, I hope the right combo comes along. Leonard would be my first choice. Since he can't convince AD to come here next off-season, why not Durant?

Cousins isn't a bad choice if all else falls apart.

We will see how Boogie does after the injury. Brand and Billups were never the same.

I think that the league should change the Cap rules. The lower seed you are, the more you get and vice versa. GSW doesn't get much. I'm sick and tired of players deciding where they will play. I'm sick and tired of super teams. Some teams will never be competitive.

Yeah so far he has looked good. If he continues on this trajectory he’d be worth the risk

Durant and Leanard combo would be great, but preferably Davis and Leanard.

I have no doubt West and FO can turn any of those 2 combinations with the right pieces to build a contender

Ewww Cousins? He was a so so defenders before the injury and now his side to side movement looks even slower now. It was a great move for him to go to GSW where they’ll make him look like a max guy and hide his flaws, very smart choice on his part.

That would be great. I’ve always wanted cousins here. When healthy he is still the best center in the league. He has looked pretty good coming back from his injury but he is not in game shape or anywhere near what he used to be yet. Let’s see how he does after the all star break when they give him more minutes. Also excited to see how he plays in his first playoff appearance. I believe he will be a force in the playoffs. He’s built for that and teams will have a really hard time stopping him with the spacing he finally has around him. Him and kawhi would be fun but kawhi and Durant would be better. But if we can get Durant the warriors will keep cousins surrounded by shooters and draymond to put it all together. The one thing the warriors never had was a real big man with an inside game. You could say David west but that’s not even close. They might like cousins more than Durant as a fit. Especially now that teams are getting bigger. Without cousins who is checking embiid? These playoffs are going to tell us a lot about where the league is going the next few years.

Defense is mostly about effort. He has never been on a respectable team until last year before he got hurt. Look at his numbers. He puts up blocks and steals at a very high rate and is consistently one of the top rebounders every year. We saw how he dominated with team USA when he had the motivation and mindset of a winner. You will see his year with the dubs, he is actually a very good defender.

Exactly! All of these guys have the physical and mental capability to defend, it’s just a question if they are willing. Even Harden has shown this year he can be a very good defender... when he wants to.

Kevon Looney is looking like a potential free agency target. He's young. He's good, and getting better. He's an unrestricted free agent. GSW probably cannot afford to make him a decent offer. And he players Center - where we are thin.

Other younger free agents I think we should take a look at (some are restricted): Ivan Rabb, Lauri Markkanene, Thomas Bryant, Cheick Diallo, Try Lyles.

2 max spots would be great- but does anyone know is it confirmed that the Clippers will be able to make that happen or do the 2 potential max guys have to take less than max? I think Durant is on the record saying he wouldn't take any discount, period.

To have two max players, we would need to trade Gallinari. We can trade him for another max guy, like Anthony Davis (which would be our second max guy - that frees up no actual space for a free agent), or we can trade him for a pick or something similar where we take nothing or little back (but only to a team under the cap which could do that).

Other options include one max player and one or more less-than-max players, and two guys willing to take a pay cut.

The Lopez Bros at Center

Wouldn’t mind that. Now you can slide Trez at the 4 with center like Brooks

Yes if Brooke would play for the low salary he played for this season.

https://twitter.com/LACLIPCAST/status/1120720436965150720

I think I may be one of the few to not want Durant on this team. I think he's toxic.

That’ll be crazy if we’re able to get those 2 guys while keeping all 3 rookies, Harrell, and Lou!

Yeah, I am in your camp on this. But if there is a chance this could happen and the FO signs off on this, I have to trust the process.

We don't have the money to sign both unless we can trade Gallinari to one of the few teams under the cap and able to absorb his contract.

I guess we could stretch his contract. That seems like a huge waste though. He's worth a pick to some team. It's just a bad year to be doing that. Teams under the cap are vying for a superstar and won't know they will be out of the superstar race until it's too late to pull off such a trade.

As good as it sounds, I don’t buy anything what that man has to say.

You’re trippin!! Any team would be foolish to pass on KD.

As soon as Kawhi says he intends to go to the Clippers, a sign and trade will happen. That's when you trade Gallo. He is a large expiring contract. Throw in one of Robinson or Shamet and a future dradt pick. That frees up space to sign KD and maybe a 2nd tier guy. Fill out the roster with minimum guys. Shai, Trezz, KD, Kawhi, Lou, Green, Zubac, Shamet or Robinson and they are instant contenders.

All this talk of getting Kawhi and Durant sounds like how Lakers fans feel entitled all the time. I can't bring myself to think like that. It's one thing to acquire via trades but for a big name to choose you, well I have to see it to believe it. I sure wouldn't want to lose all our youngsters for that second star.

Jerry West!!!! Is in our house! OUR HOUSE!! I believe Kawhi is coming to the clippers 100%

One year in the snow and he will run here! Durant, who knows? But I think that Jerry West had something to do with Durant leaving oklahoma and going to oakland.

If so, why would Durant not follow Jerry West to the clippers?

That's the question?

BINGO! We could end up striking out. Even if we do though, we have a nice core to build around. Shai, Landry, Jerome, and Ivaca are a nice group of young guys.

Absolutely, West knows what he is doing, and best believe that if Durant did sign him I would be supportive. I also didn't like Matt Barnes when we first signed him, but after a while he ended up being my favorite Clipper. That being said, Durant may be acting up because the fans just hate the idea of a top tier talent like him taking the easy way out. I wonder if many of his behaviors would change in a different setting. I would have to think so because we had a perception of him as being a nice guy in OKC.

I’m almost 100% sure we get Kawhi. KD is the only one up in the air. Who else do we get rid of to make this happened is Jerry’s job and I will trust any movement he advices to the clippers. The man knows the game of basketball and whom can make things happen. Let’s see what the off season has in stored for us. Can’t wait for July to come any sooner. Will be fun to watch and maybe shocking.

I don’t think it’s Clippers fans feeling entitled, but clippers fan just excited that we finally aren’t the black sheep team that no one wants to sign with. We have a great young roster with good role players and cap space and we are in LA. The Lakers think everyone will sign with them just because they are the Lakers, we on the other hand are hopeful because we finally aren’t the ugliest belle at the ball

It'll be tough for Kawhi to leave Toronto if the Raptors make the Finals

I don’t know, if he wants to go to LA, he wants to go to La. also imagine how legendary any player would be if they led the Clippers to the Finals and possibly a title.

Players I feel the clippers should keep in order ... young core SGA, Shamet, Trezz and Robinson. Players on the cheap or trade to improve Zubac,Sweet Lou and Beverly. On the Fence Players, Ty Wallace, Green, Motley, McGruder, Player that should be out Thornwell, Chandler, Temple, Gallinari( Hopefully traded for better fit player) Two way Player... Angel Delgado and 2nd round pick( do we even have one?) Bring in Leonard and KD

Yes that would be an obstacle in his way if they make the finals BUT I’m sure he is tired of wearing a snow jacket and feels like he wants some summer clothes. 😂😂😂

yeah I have been rooting for the Raptors to lose for this reason. I don't think he leaves that place if he gets to the finals. So we have to really root for the Raptors to somehow lose as soon as they can. Then there is the other Factor. Although Toronto is a very big city, it doesn't have the same media scrutiny that Los Angeles has. So I don't know it seems to me like Kawhi might be favoring Toronto. I hope I'm wrong

OKC is in terrible position without any flexibility. They need to clean house. Maybe we can trade Gallo, a huge expiring contract, for PG straight up and sign Kawhi Leonard. Just a thought. I obviously like the idea of just moving Gallo’s contract so we can sign Kawhi and KD.

Whoever thinks trading Shamet is s good idea needs to drop the pipe. Seriously. We have so much flexibility and our current core(Shai, Sham, Trez, Bev, Lou) is what make our roster look intriguing to potential free agents. Teams would kill for Gallo’s expiring deal.

That wouldn’t be a bad trade but we’d no doubt have to include sweeteners. I actually think Gallo would be a great 3rd option. The problem is we are trying to make him the 1st option among the starters. Gallo at stretch 4 with Kawhi at Sg/SF and Kris Middleton at SG/SF would be awesome. That’s probably a realistic signing Middleton gets $25mm and Kawhi gets $35mm. Then use an exception to sign another decent player and bring in the vets.

Gallo, Robinson, 2 firsts, 2 seconds, for PG.

And before you say no on Robinson, we HAVE to include more than Gallo to make it work money-wise, and we don't have much to offer there. Harrell, Williams, SGA, and Shamet are some other options. Given that, Robinson seems the logical choice.

I was thinking something similar because OKC is under heavy pressure to blow up that roster. Problem is, they have to be ready to trade Russ too. He won’t be part of a rebuild.

^^^^agree with both of you guys. If we could get Leonard and trade for PG, that would be my best case scenario. I'd much rather have them than any combo with KD.

I can't bear to cheer for Durant ever after his spineless move to GSW. I do NOT want him in LA. Only as a visitor so I can boo his sorry, candy, azz.

Salary cap is supposed to be $109mm next year and we have $60mm in cap space. A Kawhi contract would start at $33mm, leaving us with $27mm. If we add Pg without Jerome going then we still have $16mm. Add in Jerome and we have about $20mm left, enough to add another very good player or bring back Beverley, Green and some other role players. Jerome would probably get almost no minutes if we picked up George and Kawhi so as much as I like him, may as well trade him if we got George.

I just wonder if OKC would really do it, I’d imagine they’d look to unload Steven Adams as well. I could see a team like the Hawks willing to take on Adams. He could actually fit in well there with all their shooters. Going to be a fun offseason but first let’s enjoy the clippers run!

KD left OKC after leading 3-1 against the Warriors and losing. If we come back from a 3-1 deficit as well and beat them on game 7, it's a locked KD will join the clippers lol

Actually, I think it's the opposite. He got so much crap from the media and fans for doing that, that I don't think he'd do it again. If they beat us in 7 he might come here, but if we beat them in 7 I don't see him wanting to take all that crap again.

C’mon...there’s a huge difference between going to Clips who’ve never won anything and the touted greatest team of all time. A little perspective please... unless you are suggesting he comes after we win the Larry O’brien.

I have perspective.

If we beat them, he's not coming here. He already heard that taunt.

That is not what he heard. It wasn’t that he went to a team that beat him, it was that he went to the greatest team of all time to ride their coattails. If the Clips pull off the greatest upset in NBA history it will have no impact on his decision. His feelings may be hurt but he’ll get over it.

ya me too. If we somehow win this series there's no way KD would come to Clips this summer. He'd get eternally punked for doing that again! If we lose the series and nobody calls him a beach or insults him I think we got a real good chance.

I'd rather win though.

I would be so happy if we could just sign Kawhi.

Lou

Trez

Shai

Jrob

Sham

Sin

Pat Bev

Zu

JaMychal

KAWHI

We would still have a ton of money to work with to fill out the roster. What are some scenarios where we sign Anthony Davis? He might have a similar situation as Kawhi in 2020. Can you imagine KAWHI AND AD!?!?!?