LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Clippers: Brooklyn trade doesn’t affect LA

By Jason Reed

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on April 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-108. 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 Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: D'Angelo Russell #1 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Center on April 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 112-108. 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 Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Los Angeles Clippers will certainly be in the middle of the free agent frenzy, which now includes a new team in the Brooklyn Nets.

The Los Angeles Clippers started the process towards the 2019 offseason when the team traded Blake Griffin over a year ago. The team now has enough cap space to sign two max superstars and can legitimately become the favorites in the Western Conference with the right moves.

It helps that this is one of the deepest free agent classes in recent memory as well. There are two top-five, if not top-three, players available in Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant alongside other stars such as Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving.

The best-case scenario, at least overall talent wise, would obviously be to sign Leonard and Durant, although it is way too soon to consider that as a possibility. For the Los Angeles Clippers, the priority target this summer has been Kawhi Leonard.

More from LA Sports Hub

And that is why the Clippers do not have to worry about the other teams in search of two free agents. The New York Knicks have been competition all along but the Brooklyn Nets have now also emerged after making a salary cap saving move with the Atlanta Hawks.

The Nets now have enough space to either sign two max stars or sign a max star and retain D’Angelo Russell. Either way, that is a pairing that can win a lot of games.

It might feel like that will reduce the Clippers’ chances of signing two stars but it really has no impact on how the team should operate this summer. As previously mentioned, Leonard has to be the main priority and Leonard has not been tied to the other two teams really at all.

Instead, it appears as if the Nets and Knicks are gearing up for a battle to get both Irving and Durant, two stars that the Clippers can live without. The team doesn’t need a point guard and Leonard should take precedent over Durant.

If the two teams are in the running for Leonard and reports of him being connected to the Nets surface then Clipper fans certainly should be worried. However, until that day, the Nets and Knicks are really no danger to the Clippers.

So while the Nets definitely entered the free agent frenzy, they did not enter as competition to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Plan B options if not Kawhi Leonard. dark. Next

They might be in the same market but they are looking for different assets. For now, don’t worry about the teams on the East Coast, the Clippers will be just fine.

Home/Los Angeles Clippers