Key Takeaways:
– NBA champion, Kendrick Perkins suggests Kawhi Leonard to seek a trade from the Clippers for better championship prospects.
– Despite Paul George leaving, Clippers aren’t in a rebuilding phase, with veterans Kawhi Leonard and James Harden still on board.
– Perkins thinks the replacements for George won’t be enough for the Clippers to compete for the NBA Championship in the 2024-25 season.
– As the Clippers move into the Intuit Dome for the 2024-25 season, Perkins pushes for team reevaluation.
– Despite high hopes, the partnership of Leonard and George wasn’t successful due to injuries and other issues.
Body
Perkins’ Urges Leonard to Move On
Despite losing Paul George to free agency, the Clippers have shown no signs of entering a rebuilding phase, with stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden still in their roster. However, former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins has triggered a conversation by advising Leonard to pursue a trade from the Clippers. Speaking on ESPN’s “NBA Today”, Perkins suggested Leonard to find better prospects to fight for the title again.
New Additions to Clippers Squad Not Sufficient
In a follow-up to George’s departure in July 2024, the Clippers drafted James Jones Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Mo Bamba, Kris Dunn, and Nic Batum. However, in Perkins’s view, none of these players will be strong enough to push Los Angeles towards the 2024-25 NBA Championship. He questioned the decision for replacements, stating it would only lead the team as far as the first round of playoffs.
Time for a New Home and New Strategies
As the Clippers are about to move into their own home, the Intuit Dome, starting with the 2024-25 season, the team desperately needs some star power to woo fans. How the new arena impacts on the potential Leonard trade remains to be seen. Perkins, however, was clear in pointing out that it might be time for the Clippers to reconsider their next superstar. He further emphasized the need for the Clippers to step into the rebuilding mode.
Unfulfilled Expectations of Leonard-George Duo
In 2019, the NBA world looked forward to a formidable partnership when reigning NBA Champion, Leonard, teamed up with third MVP vote-getter, George. To everyone’s dismay, their tenure in Los Angeles was mired by injuries and unfortunate incidents. The Clippers managed to make it only to the Conference Finals once during their five years together. Given the team’s high spending, the decision to keep Leonard and George together was increasingly questioned.
Clippers Stop Banking on Leonard-George Partnership
Finally, the Clippers’ management decided that the Leonard-George duo was an expensive strategy, especially considering the new NBA rules against excessive spending by second-apron teams. As per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the Clippers had internally given up on their hope that the duo could lead them to an NBA Championship.
Looking forward, the team is wary of falling into the repeater luxury tax territory. The strict restrictions of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) also added to their determination to cut costs. As a result, the focus is now on maintaining the current squad with minimal possible trades and additional purchases.
In conclusion, with George moving over to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2024-25 season, it remains to be seen how the Clippers navigate this new path. The hopeful eyes of Clippers fans and rest of the NBA circles will be eagerly watching the unfolding scenario in the coming weeks.