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Los Angeles Clippers can kiss Kawhi Leonard goodbye forever

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks in front of Chris Paul #3, J.J. Redick #4, Austin Rivers #25 and DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers during a 105-97 Spurs win at Staples Center on February 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks in front of Chris Paul #3, J.J. Redick #4, Austin Rivers #25 and DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers during a 105-97 Spurs win at Staples Center on February 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Kawhi Leonard has been traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors and now the chances of him ever joining the Los Angeles Clippers are slim to none.

The Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs pulled off the trade of the summer by essentially swapping DeMar DeRozan and Kawhi Leonard, which is terrible news for the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Spurs acquired DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick in exchange for Leonard, Danny Green and some cash. This was a great steal for the Spurs, who are trading one season of Leonard for four more seasons of DeRozan.

As for the Raptors, this is a last-ditch plea to make it out of the Eastern Conference and into the NBA Finals. If it does not work out, and Kawhi Leonard walks away, the Raptors can begin the rebuild even sooner.

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Chances are that Leonard will walk away from the Raptors after the first season. From every report that has surfaced, it seems that Leonard wants nothing to do with the city of Toronto. He wants to be in LA.

And of course, that could change like it did with Paul George and Oklahoma City. However, seeing how Leonard has handled everything as a Spur, he does not seem likely to settle for anything but his way.

Common sense would entail that this thrusts the Los Angeles Clippers straight to the top of the Leonard sweepstakes. And while being in LA certainly helps the Clippers, the chances of Leonard ever actually becoming a Clipper is now slim to none.

The Clippers’ best bet to get Leonard would have been to trade for him with promising talents such as Tobias Harris, a promising young talent in Jerome Robinson and whatever else the Spurs wanted to ask for.

Understandably so, the Clippers front office likely did not want to send an overpriced haul for Leonard. And while that was smart, the Clippers missed their shot.

The thing that the Clippers front office does not seem to realize is that the team is not a huge free agent destination on its own. The city of Los Angeles is great, sure, but the Clippers will always be trumped by the Lakers in that department.

In the days of Lob City, I would say that the Clippers were the more intriguing team and that really was the first time in either team’s history that it was the case. Now, with LeBron in LA, the Lakers are the obvious intriguing destination.

The Lakers will have cap space next summer, as will the Clippers. However, with the Clippers cap space will come a lack of talent on the roster. There are simply too many open spots after the season. Even if Leonard wanted to be a Clipper, there really would not be a deep enough supporting cast to go anywhere.

And if Leonard does not value winning than sure, he can head to the Clippers for the same amount he can get from the Lakers for no reason other than preferring the Clippers as a team.

However, with the Lakers, he gets the added bonus of having pressure taken off of him and will undoubtedly make LA the best team in basketball. That would be a Lakers team that could win three straight finals.

Next: Hornets are a good trade partner for the Clippers

That is not the Los Angeles Clippers. Simply put, the Clippers missed their chance and the chance of Kawhi Leonard ever being a Clipper is gone.

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