Los Angeles Clippers: Trade to make if Kawhi Leonard signs elsewhere

Only one superstar remains this summer in Kawhi Leonard and there is a chance the Los Angeles Clippers turn up empty-handed.

The Los Angeles Clippers have not been overly active this summer as the team awaits the decision of Kawhi Leonard, who seemingly is deciding between the Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors.

The Clippers have made some moves, including being a part of a four-team trade that landed the team Maurice Harkless and a draft pick. The team also re-signed point guard Patrick Beverley to a three-year contract.

If the Clippers come up empty-handed and do not sign Leonard then this summer is going to feel like a massive disappointment. Fans were raving about the possibility of bringing in two stars and to end up with nothing, especially if the Lakers get Leonard, is going to be a massive putdown.

However, the one saving grace that the Clippers have is the fact that they have been smartly stockpiling assets where they could make a move if push comes to shove. With not that great of a free agent class next offseason, the Clippers should be inclined to make a trade if the team does not land Leonard.

The team could make this deal during the offseason or could wait until the deadline if it becomes more of a possibility. Either way, this is the trade the Los Angeles Clippers should try and make if the team misses out on Kawhi.

Here the Los Angeles Clippers would be getting some star power that would make the team a better contender in 2019 while also maintaining enough cap space to add more to the team next summer.

Beal might not be the franchise-altering star that Leonard is, but he could be the first piece of many to fall in the Clippers favor as they look to build a true contender.

For the Washington Wizards, trading Beal could be in the cards as the Beal-John Wall partnership just hasn’t worked. With Wall’s massive contract, Beal becomes the one that the team has to move.

And in return, the team gets a forward that can score 20 points a night in Danilo Gallinari that could fit in nicely as a second option behind Wall, if the team signs him past this season.

The Wizards also get a great, young defensive big man in Montrezl Harrell. This bolsters the depth of the roster and again, is another young piece that the team can get excited about.

Jerome Robinson is a lottery pick from 2018 that did not get a ton of chances to shine in his rookie year but still has a lot of potential, especially as a great scorer, both on and off the ball. That potential could finally shine through in Washington.

Finally, the Clippers trade the Miami Heat draft pick that they acquired for Tobias Harris. While that pick has been highly touted, the addition of Jimmy Butler in Miami is going to make it a mid-first-round pick, something that becomes more expendable for a guy like Beal.

And in return, the Clippers get a premier scoring guard that could shine alongside the rest of the roster. Beal likely would have to play small forward in LA to close games with Lou Williams on the court, which is doable in today’s age.

But either way, the Clippers would essentially be flipping one year of Gallinari and some youth pieces for multiple years of Beal. Not only will Beal help on the court, but he can help in the recruiting process as well.

And most importantly, the Los Angeles Clippers would even have cap space for this summer as well, helping the team remain flexible in adding more pieces around Beal and company to build a contender.