Los Angeles Clippers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Achilles Injury Not Expected To Deter Durant’s Suitors

June 11th, 2019 at 9:00pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Kevin Durant‘s Achilles injury won’t change the offseason plans for several NBA franchises. The Warriors, Knicks, Nets, Lakers, and Clippers are all expected to pursue Durant, with his injury unlikely to cool their enthusiasm, sources tell David Aldridge of The Athletic.

There’s optimism around the league that Durant will come back from the ailment and remain among the NBA’s elite, making him worthy of a maximum-salary investment this summer.

“It’s not like he’s gonna fall from the top player in the league to number 50, even with the Achilles,” a league executive told Aldridge. “Maybe he falls into the top 10. I still think KD is a guy that’s going to score 20, 25 a game.”

Aldridge suggests that that the price for Anthony Davis has gone up as a result of the Durant injury. Durant could miss all of next season and with one fewer star available to suit up, the scarcity of those elite players in both the free agency and trade market may give added leverage to the Pelicans.

The Achilles injury won’t stop Durant from seeking a new deal. He’s long been expected to turn down his $31.5MM player option for next season, though with the injury, the decision is no longer a slam dunk. Durant officially has until June 29 to make a contractual move.

Latest On Anthony Davis

June 11th, 2019 at 3:18pm CST by Luke Adams

After new Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin spoke during his first few weeks in New Orleans about wanting to retain Anthony Davis, he has apparently become more open to the idea of a trade as of late. One Monday report provided several details on the kind of return the Pelicans are looking for in exchange for Davis, as well as the scenarios they’re exploring, while another indicated that AD’s own wish list may be narrowing.

As Scott Kushner of The Advocate writes, those two reports showed each side – the Pelicans and Davis’ camp – looking to amplify its own message. The Pelicans are aiming to maximize their potential return in any deal, while Davis is making it more difficult for the 27 teams not on his wish list to feel confident that he’d be more than just a one-year rental.

While Griffin is facing pressure to get good value back for Davis, he indicated today that he won’t let next Thursday’s draft act as a deadline forcing him to get something done as soon as possible, as Andrew Lopez of The Times-Picayune relays (via Twitter).

“If things evolve in such a way that it’s time for us to make a decision relative to Anthony Davis or any other part of the organization, we will,” Griffin said. “But we’re not in a hurry to do anything. WE don’t feel there is a time sensitivity to anything we’re talking about. That includes AD’s desire to stay or not stay. It’s not something there’s a shot clock on.”

Here’s more on Davis and the Pelicans:

The Knicks, one of the two teams on Davis’ wish list (along with the Lakers), have engaged in talks with other teams in an effort to improve their offer for the All-Star big man, reports Ian Begley of SNY.tv. However, Begley notes that some people in the organization are uncomfortable with giving up too many major assets for Davis, citing the Carmelo Anthony deal as a cautionary tale.
Marc Berman of The New York Post also hears that the Pelicans don’t find the Knicks‘ young assets especially attractive in a package, suggesting that New York would need to find a third team to help complete a deal for Davis. A source tells Berman that the Pelicans consider the Celtics to have the best young assets.
According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, there aren’t many people in league circles who believe that Griffin will get everything on his wish list in a Davis trade (an All-Star player, a young player with All-Star upside, and multiple first-round picks). However, sources tell Kyler that more than half the teams in the league have registered some interest, and there are “a lot” of conversations taking place.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report explores what Davis offers from the Lakers, Knicks, Celtics, Nets, and Clippers might look like.

Kevin Durant Notes: Reactions, Ripple Effect, More

June 11th, 2019 at 11:35am CST by Luke Adams

Even though he was cleared to play in Game 5, Warriors star Kevin Durant wasn’t “anywhere close” to 100%, sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. As family members, teammates, and confidants checked in on his status during his recovery from a calf injury, Durant said throughout the process that he was still experiencing discomfort pushing off his right foot, Haynes adds.

There was some resentment throughout Durant’s recovery about the way the Warriors handled updates on his progress, according to Haynes, who notes that KD’s possible return became a daily talking point once the club didn’t simply rule him out indefinitely.

Durant is now facing a possible worst-case scenario, as he suffered an Achilles injury during his brief return on Monday night. While an MRI has yet to confirm the diagnosis, the Warriors believe he suffered a torn right Achilles tendon. An injury of that magnitude would sideline him not only for the rest of the NBA Finals, but for most or all of the 2019/20 season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that Durant is heading to New York, rather than Oakland, for medical evaluations on his injured Achilles. The Warriors don’t expect to have an update on the two-time Finals MVP until at least late tonight or tomorrow morning, tweets Mark Medina of The Bay Area News Group.

Here’s more on Durant’s injury:

Warriors guard Shaun Livingston pushed back against the idea that the team’s front office or training staff should be blamed for Durant’s injury, per Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. “I know for a fact that our team, [GM] Bob [Myers] and [head coach] Steve [Kerr], and the training staff, is not going to compromise their integrity [just to win a game],” Livingston told Beck. “They’re always going to put a player first because they look at guys as humans.”
Durant’s injury will have a significant ripple effect on the rest of the NBA Finals and the coming offseason, according to John Gonzalez of The Ringer. Gonzalez writes that teams like the Knicks and Clippers, who would have killed to sign a healthy KD, may have to re-evaluate their approach to free agency — assuming Durant even opts out of his Warriors contract, which is no longer a lock at all.
Marc Berman of The New York Post and Ian Begley of SNY.tv examine the impact of Durant’s injury on the Knicks, with both reporters suggesting that it may increase the likelihood of the franchise continuing a gradual rebuild rather than swinging for the fences this offseason.
While the Celtics were never considered a contender for Durant, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston wonders if the injury could affect the team anyway. As Forsberg observes, there has long been speculation that Durant and Kyrie Irving would consider teaming up this summer. If Durant is expected to miss all or most of the 2019/20 season – or if he opts in with the Warriors – that scenario may no longer be on the table, which could in turn increase the odds of Irving sticking with Boston for at least one more year.

Lakers, Knicks Top Anthony Davis’ Wish List

June 10th, 2019 at 5:24pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Anthony Davis is focused on joining either the Lakers or Knicks as his long-term destination, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Davis, who can become a free agent next summer, has not formally told Pelicans executive VP of basketball operations David Griffin that he has narrowed his list. Davis submitted a four-team list to the Pelicans in February that also included the Clippers and Bucks.

Griffin met with Davis and his agent, Rich Paul, late last month in an effort to convince Davis to remain with the Pelicans. However, Davis’ desire to be dealt remained unchanged and Griffin has accelerated trade talks.

Several teams have expressed an interest in trading for Davis, according to Charania, including the Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Nets and Celtics. An ESPN report surfaced earlier on Monday that Griffin is willing to involve third parties in trade discussions in order to maximize the package New Orleans would receive.

Charania’s report suggests that Paul is attempting to steer those discussions toward the Lakers and Knicks. If those franchises know that Davis is willing to commit to them long-term, they obviously have more incentive to do everything they can to acquire the superstar big man.

Even so, other suitors — including the Celtics — are aggressively pursuing Davis despite not being one of his preferred teams. The Celtics are apparently willing to deal for Davis regardless of where Kyrie Irving ends up in free agency, Charania continues.

Griffin could hold onto Davis into next month with the hope of getting a desperate team that missed on its free agent targets to up the ante, Charania adds.

Pelicans Exploring Multi-Team Anthony Davis Trade Scenarios

June 10th, 2019 at 11:45am CST by Luke Adams

The Pelicans have started to provide potential Anthony Davis suitors with the framework of the package they’re seeking in return for their star big man, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. According to Wojnarowski, new head of basketball operations David Griffin is open to multi-team scenarios that would expand the pool of potential assets available to New Orleans.

The Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, and Nets are among the teams that have been in touch with the Pelicans since they began listening to inquiries on Davis, Wojnarowski writes. The Celtics also have interest in AD, though Kyrie Irving‘s uncertain future is a wild card in their potential pursuit. Based on the success the Raptors have had with their Kawhi Leonard acquisition, other smaller-market teams or unexpected suitors may also be emboldened to make a play for Davis, Woj adds.

Based on conversations with front offices who have spoken to Griffin, Wojnarowski suggests that the Pelicans aren’t sure if a single team will be able to provide the package they want for Davis. A multi-team scenario that would allow the club acquiring Davis to flip some of its pieces for assets more favorable to the Pelicans is one idea under consideration.

According to Woj, Griffin is seeking some combination of the following assets: An All-Star player, a young player with All-Star potential, and multiple first-round picks. As Woj explains, the strength of some of those pieces would have an impact on the rest of the package. For example, the better the player headlining the offer, the softer the ask for draft picks might be.

The Pelicans, who are looking to build around Jrue Holiday and presumed No. 1 pick Zion Williamson, haven’t given teams a specific timetable on when they want to finalize a trade, league sources tell Wojnarowski.

However, Griffin would prefer to reach an agreement to acquire any 2019 draft picks before June 20, since it would give the team a better opportunity to scout and meet with potential targets, per Woj. If the Pelicans stick to that stance, it could really accelerate the timeline of a deal, since the draft is just 10 days away.

Some teams with interest in Davis may also be motivated to complete a deal by draft night, since acquiring the All-NBA big man would bolster a club’s pitches to top free agents.

Pacific Notes: Clippers, Thompson, Looney, Toppert

June 9th, 2019 at 7:06pm CST by JD Shaw

The Clippers are hoping to meet with impending star free agent Kawhi Leonard once he hits the open market, but the team has started to consider other options in case he chooses to sign a new contract elsewhere, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Leonard is currently in the midst of a historic playoff run with Toronto, one that may persuade him to re-sign with the franchise if the Raptors can seal the deal and win their first ever NBA championship.

Los Angeles has long been linked to Leonard and would have the cap space to ink him on a multi-year, maximum-salary deal if he chooses to leave Toronto. However, sources told Vardon that the Clippers have recently spent most of their time during offseason meetings discussing scenarios in which Leonard doesn’t choose to sign with the team.

Leonard, an L.A. native, listed the Clippers as one of his preferred trade destinations before being moved from San Antonio to Toronto last offseason. The Clippers could also choose to pursue Warriors forward Kevin Durant, Celtics guard Kyrie Irving or other stars on the open market, including forward Anthony Davis in a potential trade with the Pelicans.

There’s more from the Pacific Division tonight:

Warriors guard Klay Thompson said he was roughly 80% healthy when he played in Game 4 on Friday, Matt Schneidman of The Mercury News tweets. As of Sunday, Thompson said he felt around 90% and hopes to be closer to 100% for Monday’s important Game 5.
Kevon Looney felt “fine” after making his surprise return to Game 4, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, according to Mark Medina of The Mercury News (Twitter link). Looney returned for his team five days after suffering a costal cartilage fracture, displaying his toughness and willingness to sacrifice. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes of work.
Former Suns assistant coach Cody Toppert has reached an agreement to join the Memphis Tigers as an assistant, according to The Athletic’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link). Topper will coach under NBA legend Penny Hardaway, who was hired by the University of Memphis last year. Toppert registered interest from multiple NBA teams but was sold most on Hardaway’s vision for his program, Scotto notes.

Raptors Notes: Leonard, Gasol, Lowry, Green

June 7th, 2019 at 2:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

Everyone knows about the flashy moves that vaulted the Raptors into the NBA Finals, but ESPN’s Brian Windhorst examines some of the under-the-radar happenings that have Toronto on the verge of its first championship. One of them dates back to 2011 when they nabbed highly respected trainer Alex McKechnie after the Lakers let his contract expire. McKechnie has led the way in keeping Kawhi Leonard healthy and building his trust in the organization after his experience in San Antonio.

The Raptors also benefited when the Nuggets declined to match their offer to team president Masai Ujiri in 2013, when the Knicks turned down a trade involving Kyle Lowry during the 2013/14 season, and when Pascal Siakam decided to attend a Basketball Without Borders camp in 2012 because it gave him a chance to visit his sister in South Africa.

Windhorst also examines the trade that brought Marc Gasol from the Grizzlies in February, noting that the deal wouldn’t have been possible unless Memphis was able to unload salary to keep from going into luxury tax territory. The answer came when the Clippers agreed to take Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green in exchange for Avery Bradley, allowing Toronto to pick up Gasol, who has provided a valuable veteran presence in the middle.

There’s more Raptors news to pass along:

The Knicks would have sent several players to Toronto in the Lowry deal, including Metta World Peace and Iman Shumpert, along with a 2018 first-round pick, according to Frank Isola of The Athletic. Owner James Dolan decided to nix the trade because he didn’t fare well in two previous deals with Ujiri, including the one that brought Carmelo Anthony to New York.
Danny Green seems to save his best performances for the NBA Finals, notes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Green, who is headed for free agency, made six 3-pointers in Game 3 and is among just two players to make at least 15 Finals 3-pointers while shooting better than 50% from long range. “I don’t think it’s the stage,” Green said. “I think it’s just the life of a shooter. Sometimes you have ups and downs and I think luckily, during this time, I’ve had some ups.”
Knicks officials are confident that they will get a meeting with Leonard when free agency starts at the end of the month, relays Mark Berman of The New York Post. They may explore the possibility of teaming Leonard with Kevin Durant now that Kyrie Irving is rumored to be headed to Brooklyn.

Clippers Unlikely To Include Gilgeous-Alexander In Davis Offer

June 7th, 2019 at 11:30am CST by Arthur Hill

The Clippers are among the teams reportedly interested in Anthony Davis. However, rookie guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is unlikely to be part of any offer, ESPN’s Bobby Marks said yesterday on The Sedano Show (hat tip to Larry Brown Sports). Marks believes Gilgeous-Alexander would be off limits if discussions take place between the two teams.

The 11th pick in last year’s draft, Gilgeous-Alexander quickly became a starter in Los Angeles, averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while playing all 82 games. He also proved to be a capable play-maker and an aggressive defender.

Still only 19 and with a $3.95MM salary for next season, SGA would be an attractive asset to offer the Pelicans, but the Clippers seem determined to hold onto him. That makes it more likely that young, affordable players such as Montrezl Harrell ($6MM in 2019/20), Jerome Robinson ($3.57MM) and Landry Shamet ($1.995MM) will be part of the Clippers’ offer. Danilo Gallinari ($22.6MM) may have to be included for salary-matching purposes unless L.A. uses cap room to absorb Davis’ salary.

The Clippers were on the list of four preferred destinations that Davis gave the Pelicans when he submitted his trade request.

Latest On Nets, Kyrie Irving

June 7th, 2019 at 9:13am CST by Arthur Hill

The trade that will send Allen Crabbe‘s salary to the Hawks is the first step in the Nets‘ “dream scenario” of signing both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant this summer, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Woj cites “strong mutual interest” between Irving and the Nets, who will have $46MM in cap space once the trade becomes official in early July and can nearly put themselves in position to sign both players by renouncing D’Angelo Russell‘s cap hold.

The Knicks are also interested in an Irving-Durant pairing, but Irving now seems more intrigued about the possibility of playing in Brooklyn, Wojnarowski adds. He states that the Nets haven’t ruled out the idea of signing just one free agent and keeping Russell if Plan A doesn’t work out.

There’s more this morning on Irving and the Nets:

Other teams with interest in signing Irving are now operating as though Brooklyn is the favorite to land him, according to Ian Begley of SNY.TV. An anonymous GM told Begley it’s unlikely that a team would give up two first-round picks without a solid reason to expect that it was signing at least one top-level free agent. “(Brooklyn GM) Sean (Marks) is going for it. The Nets are all in,” the GM said after the trade was announced. Brooklyn is sending the 17th pick in this year’s draft plus a lottery-protected first-rounder in 2020 to Atlanta. Sources tell Begley that the chances of Irving returning to Boston are now “low.” Those close to the All-Star point guard continue to insist that he hasn’t ruled out any potential destination.
The upcoming fight for free agents has finally ignited the Knicks-Nets rivalry, notes Mike Vorkunov of The Atheltic. Both will be in position to offer two max salaries, and the consequences if either team doesn’t hit the jackpot could be felt for years. It’s also more than a two-team race, as the Clippers can also open up a second max slot, the Lakers still have LeBron James to offer and the Mavericks have a promising core built around Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
ESPN’s Zach Lowe explains the protections on the 2020 first-round pick the Nets are sending to the Hawks in the Crabbe deal (Twitter link). It will remain lottery protected for three years, then will convert to a pair of second-rounders.

Five Key Offseason Questions: Los Angeles Clippers

June 6th, 2019 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

When the last member of the Clippers‘ Lob City Big Three departed during the 2018 offseason at the same time LeBron James joined the Lakers, the Clips appeared poised to once again become an afterthought in Los Angeles.

Instead, head coach Doc Rivers led a team without a true star to 48 wins and a spot in the postseason, even winning a pair of games against the two-time defending champion Warriors in the first round. Even though the season didn’t end with a deep playoff run, it was a massive success for the Clippers, who continued to shape a positive culture, began to develop long-term cornerstones like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet, and made a strong case for why top free agents should seriously consider joining the team this offseason.

Here are five key questions facing the franchise this summer:

1. Will Kawhi Leonard become a Clipper?

The NBA’s most inscrutable star has said so little about his upcoming free agency that it’s virtually impossible to even read between the lines of the comments he has made. Instead, we’ve had to rely all season on anonymous sources and second-hand reports, most of which have said the same thing: The Clippers look like the frontrunners to land Leonard.

Many of the reporters who have addressed Leonard’s free agency throughout the year have acknowledged themselves that trying to read the tea leaves on Kawhi is futile, but as I pointed out last week when I discussed the rumors linking Kevin Durant to the Knicks, these reports aren’t being pulled out of thin air. If enough people in the know are saying the same thing, there’s generally something to it.

Leonard has long been linked to his hometown of Los Angeles, and there have been whispers that playing second fiddle to LeBron on the Lakers wouldn’t appeal to him, so the Clippers rumblings make sense. He’d be an ideal fit for a team on the rise that already has a pair of promising young centers (Montrezl Harrell and Ivica Zubac) and an impressive trio of guards (Gilgeous-Alexander, Shamet, and Lou Williams) under control, with the flexibility to add more weapons.

The Clippers have also made it clear all year that they want Leonard. Reports early in the season indicated that the team had a representative in attendance at many Raptors games, and word broke recently that the Clips even explored the feasibility of buying a portion of the rights to Kawhi’s “Klaw” logo, which is still owned by Nike. They’ve been preparing their pitch for a while.

Still, the Raptors won’t let Leonard get away easily. They can offer him more years and more money than any rival suitor, but will also be willing to accommodate a shorter-term deal if that’s Kawhi’s preference. Throw in the fact that Leonard has reached an NBA Finals in his first season in Toronto and there’s a case to be made that the Raptors are an even better fit than the Clips. With Leonard unlikely to tip his hand until after free agency gets underway, we’ll have to wait a few more weeks to see which direction he’s leaning.

2. If the Clippers can’t land Leonard, which free agents will they turn their attention to?

The Clippers can carve out upwards of $56MM in cap room fairly easily, even without making any cost-cutting moves. They have the means to go after whomever they want on the open market, and they’ll have an attractive situation to sell. Even if they can’t reel in Leonard, the Clippers should have the ear of other top free agents.

The most obvious target – one who probably deserves co-billing at the top of the team’s wish list alongside Leonard – is Durant. There has been speculation for months that KD’s days in Golden State are numbered, which opens the door for a team like the Clips to make a run at the two-time Finals MVP. A reunion with the Warriors is still in play, and teams like the Nets and Knicks will aggressively pursue Durant, but the Clips shouldn’t be ruled out.

After Leonard and Durant, the Clippers’ list of top targets gets murkier. I’m skeptical that the club will have serious interest in point guards like Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker, given SGA’s potential. L.A.’s in-season trade of Tobias Harris suggested the team wasn’t committed to him long-term. Klay Thompson would be a great fit, but he’s much less likely than Durant to leave the Dubs.

Among the top tier or two of 2019’s unrestricted free agents, that leaves Jimmy Butler and Khris Middleton. I think both players would be strong additions for the Clippers, but in order to realistically have a shot at either them, the franchise would likely have to a put a four-year, maximum-salary offer on the table. After meticulously clearing their cap over the last couple years, the Clips may not want to surrender that flexibility by going all-in on a borderline All-Star.

3. Will the Clippers trade any of their top assets?

If the Clippers can’t land a star on the free agent market, their best bet would be on the trade market, where Anthony Davis is expected to be on the block this summer. With several teams gunning for the All-Star big man though, the Clips would have to make a substantial offer to have a realistic shot at him.

As Chris Crouse outlined in his breakdown of the most valuable assets among Davis’ top suitors, Los Angeles has some strong pieces. Shamet, Williams, and Harrell are all on extremely team-friendly deals and are capable of immediately slotting into any team’s rotation. The Clippers don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but hold extra selections in future years, including the Sixers’ first-rounder in 2020 (lottery protected) and the Heat’s 2021 first-rounder (unprotected).

The Clippers could put together a tantalizing package using some combination of those players and picks, especially if they’re willing to use their cap room to take on Solomon Hill‘s contract along with Davis. But it’s hard to picture the Pelicans being satisfied with a Clippers package that doesn’t include Gilgeous-Alexander.

While SGA’s rookie stats (10.8 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.8 RPG) don’t jump off the page, his shooting efficiency (.476/.367/.800) and his defensive abilities suggest he’s capable of stardom. He’s probably the closest thing the Clippers have to an untouchable piece, and unless they can count on acquiring another star or two to join Davis in L.A., the Clips will be extremely reluctant to put him on the table in any trade talks.

The Clippers’ other players – including Jerome Robinson and Danilo Gallinari – could probably be had in the right deal, but I don’t expect the team to part with any of its more valuable contracts unless a clear upgrade is available.

4. Will Danilo Gallinari return to the Clippers?

Gallinari is one of the most interesting pieces on the Clippers’ roster. He’s the only player currently slated to earn more than $8MM for the team next season, and while his expiring contract is sizable ($22.6MM), it’s not a negative asset by any means.

Gallinari is coming off a bounce-back year in which he stayed relatively healthy and received legitimate All-Star consideration, averaging career highs in PPG (19.8), RPG (6.1), and FG% (.463), among other categories. For a team that whiffs on its top targets in free agency, acquiring Gallinari with its leftover cap room isn’t a bad fallback option — especially if the Clips are just looking to get off his salary and don’t require a major return.

Of course, there are only a handful of specific scenarios in which the Clippers would want to shed Gallinari’s expiring deal. If they knock it out of the park in free agency and convince two maximum-salary players to join them, Gallinari’s contract would need to be moved to create more cap space.

Gallinari could also be the primary salary-matching piece in a trade for a star. Davis’ $27MM salary, for instance, isn’t far off from Gallinari’s cap hit. Starting a package with the Italian forward would make it much simpler to build an offer, since the Clippers wouldn’t have to worry about throwing four or five lesser-paid players into a deal to match AD’s cap figure.

If those opportunities don’t arise in free agency or on the trade market, the Clippers probably won’t mind bringing Gallinari back. But his expiring deal and his career year in 2018/19 certainly make him one of the offseason’s more intriguing candidates.

5. Which of their own free agents will the Clippers prioritize?

While they may enter free agency focused on big fish like Leonard and Durant, the Clippers have a few pretty good players of their own headed for the open market. I don’t expect the Clips to pursue new deals with Wilson Chandler, Garrett Temple, or JaMychal Green too aggressively, but if they can bring back Zubac, Patrick Beverley, and Rodney McGruder at reasonable rates, they’ll likely try to do so.

Zubac, whom the Clippers stole from the Lakers in a deadline deal, and McGruder, who was claimed off waivers at the end of the season when the Heat got desperate to duck the tax, are restricted free agents. Their combined cap holds only total about $5MM, so the Clips can issue qualifying offers to both players and still have more than enough cap room for a maximum-salary free agent.

If Zubac or McGruder gets an offer sheet that the Clippers are uncomfortable with matching, it’d be easy enough to part ways with them, but their RFA status should give the club some leverage in contract negotiations.

As for Beverley, he’ll be unrestricted and will likely draw interest from teams around the league in need of a veteran point guard, including the Bulls, Suns, and a handful of others. After missing most of the 2017/18 season with a significant knee injury, Beverley proved in 2018/19 that he was fully healthy, averaging 27.4 MPG in 78 games for L.A., with a .397 3PT% and exceptional perimeter defense.

Re-signing Beverley to share point guard duties with Gilgeous-Alexander would be great if the Clippers can pull it off, but with SGA likely prepared to take on a larger role in his sophomore season, the team shouldn’t get into a bidding war if the cost for Beverley gets too high.

Check out the Los Angeles Clippers’ offseason salary cap outlook right here.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.