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Los Angeles Clippers: Jerry West cements his legacy with Kawhi signing

By Jamaal Artis

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 06: Los Angeles Clippers executive board member Jerry West (L) and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talk as they attend a 2018 NBA Summer League game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 92-85. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 06: Los Angeles Clippers executive board member Jerry West (L) and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talk as they attend a 2018 NBA Summer League game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 92-85. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Clippers landed the biggest star of the summer in Kawhi Leonard, solidifying the team and a certain legacy in the process.

The silhouette of Los Angeles Clippers executive, Jerry West dribbling the ball may have inspired the logo for the NBA but it may be time to create a new one, perhaps one of him in a suit at a desk as he turns the wheels of the NBA.

With the bombshell free agent signing of Kawhi Leonard and blockbuster trade for Paul George, West has cemented himself as the greatest executive in NBA history and probably all of sports.

Consider it was just two years ago after another failed playoff year that the Los Angeles Clippers broke up their “Lob City” triumvirate of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan.

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Paul was sent to the Houston Rockets for Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Darrun Hilliard, DeAndre Liggins, Kyle Wiltjer, a protected first-round pick next year and cash considerations.

After re-signing Griffin he was then jettisoned to the Detroit Pistons for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round pick and a second-round pick.

Fast forward to the present and it is those cash crops of veterans and assets that have laid the foundation for the current roster and made possible the trade for George that cemented Leonard’s signing.

West does not work alone he has a capable general manager in Lawrence Frank and the deep pockets of owner Steve Ballmer. But to construct this roster and add two superstars in one night cements the legacy of West as his sports greatest executive.

In one fell swoop, West has given the Clippers the cache and relevancy they’ve never had. This team has gone from laughingstock to one of the premier teams in the NBA.

If West has finally gotten the Clippers to an NBA title, then he would have been the executive to help build two Los Angeles Lakers dynasties, given relevance to the Memphis Grizzlies, and been the behind the scenes guru of a Warriors dynasty.

That is a legacy of 40 years plus that no one can match. Lest we all forget the Los Angeles Clippers have never even made a conference final in any iteration of their franchise in their 50 years in the NBA.

Next. Winners and losers of Kawhi decision. dark

Now they are on paper the favorites in the NBA, and they can thank Jerry West for that.

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