As the NBA conducts an investigation into the Los Angeles Clippers for circumventing the salary cap, the team has to prepare for the worst. If they are found guilty of any wrongdoing, they might be fined, there could be suspensions, draft picks could be surrendered, or Kawhi Leonard’s contract could be voided.
Most experts agree that Adam Silver won’t be in a position to dole out punishment for at least several months, if not longer, allowing the Clippers to prepare for the worst.
While the Clippers have done a solid job of building an elite cast around Leonard, their title hopes would be dashed if he were to be removed from the roster. As a result, the Clippers have been urged to target Zion Williamson before the league offices can issue a ruling.
LA Clippers Encouraged to Land Zion Williamson
Williamson, like Leonard, has a bit of a reputation. In six seasons, he has played in over 30 games only twice, although when he’s on the floor, he’s elite.
The New Orleans Pelicans have hung their success on his health, to woeful results. However, the Clippers are already a contending team, having won 50 games last season. Adding Williamson to a ready-built winner instead of asking him to shoulder the load could work out.
Plus, as mentioned, the Clippers might want to part ways with assets before Silver revokes them.
“If the Clippers trade for a star using their picks, what could Silver do about it?” asked Yahoo! Sports’ Tom Haberstroh on September 23rd. “As long as the investigation is ongoing, the answer is almost certainly nothing. Freezing a team’s assets for the duration of an investigation would cause an all-out revolt among the other owners — the opposite of Silver’s ‘innocent until proven guilty’ decree last week. Ultimately, Silver’s hands would be tied until the verdict came in.”
The Clippers likely won’t be able to find a suitor for Leonard, so they need to trade for a contract worth less than the league maximum. Haberstroh identified Williamson as a possible fit.
“If you’re able to stomach the injury-riddled Leonard, why not double down?” he wrote. “From the Pelicans’ side, they sport a new front office led by Joe Dumars, and new regimes have been known to clean house so they can start with a blank canvas.”
Mock Trade Sends Zion Williamson to Clippers
For the Pelicans, the goal of any trade would be to recoup draft capital to build around Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. In a loaded Western Conference, New Orleans is miles from contention, so they can take their time.
Los Angeles, on the other hand, would want to unsaddle themselves from any assets the league could take away. Leonard’s contract is nearly immovable, although the Clippers have other options.
Los Angeles could send John Collins, Derrick Jones Jr., first-round picks in 2030 and 2032, and a swap in 2031, to New Orleans for the often-injured star.
This deal would give the Pelicans room to build even after trading next year’s pick to the Atlanta Hawks, and would free up $26.5 million in cap space next summer. The Clippers, meanwhile, would be able to start Leonard, Williamson, James Harden, Bradley Beal, and Ivica Zubac with Chris Paul, Kris Dunn, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Nicolas Batum prepared to play a big role in the event that injuries pile up.
Would the deal make a fool out of Adam Silver? Perhaps, but at this point, that’s not the Clippers’ concern.