The Los Angeles Clippers must make changes after another disappointing playoff exit before the NBA Finals — the fifth of the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era.
However, with a move to the $2 billion Intuit Dome this fall, it seems unlikely majority owner Steve Ballmer and his management team will opt for a full-scale rebuild.
Thus, here are three moves the Clippers should make this offseason to retool while maintaining high interest for their inaugural season in a new arena:
Acquire a starting power forward
For the fourth season in a row, injuries prevented Leonard — the 2019 NBA Finals MVP — from contributing to the fullest in the playoffs.
Knee injuries seem inevitable at this point in the 32-year-old’s career, but it would behoove the Clippers to keep Leonard. They have limited options to pivot from the six-time All-Star, who is owed $152.4 million over the next three seasons. Plus, his shaky injury history doesn’t help his trade value.
One way the Clippers could preserve Leonard, without load management, is to slot him back into his natural position of small forward and acquire a starting power forward. This move would allow Leonard to avoid the toll that comes with banging and bumping in the post with power forwards, affording him the opportunity to maximize his offense.
The Clippers could target Charlotte’s Grant Williams for this role. The Hornets are amid a rebuild, and they would likely be willing to deal Williams, who is within the Clippers’ budget (roughly $13 million in 2024-25 with reasonable increases the two following seasons).
Williams provides spacing (37.5% from three this past season), size (236 pounds) and playoff experience (61 playoff games).