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Los Angeles Clippers: Why Kawhi Leonard isn’t a viable MVP candidate

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Paul George and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers arrive to their introductory press conference at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 24: Paul George and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers arrive to their introductory press conference at Green Meadows Recreation Center on July 24, 2019 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 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Clippers are arguably the best team in the NBA heading into the 2019 season with the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

The script has flipped and the Los Angeles Clippers are now the best team in Los Angeles, at least that is how it seems on paper. You still have to play the games and truly anything can happen this year in the NBA, which would include a Clipper disappointment.

However, it is more likely than not that the Clippers will have a very successful 2019 season and will be right in the thick of the NBA Title picture once the playoffs roll around. It truly is an exciting year as there is no one dominant team that stands out above the rest.

Yes, the Clippers should be favored for their insane defense and potential playoff bench, but they still only have a superstar duo, something that pretty much every contending team has now instead of a superstar trio.

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Leading the way for the Clippers is Kawhi Leonard, who sparked this new era with the Clippers by signing with the team after the front office was able to nab Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The one drawback is that they both could theoretically leave after two seasons, but we will cross that bridge once it is there.

Leonard was a huge winner of the NBA Playoffs and obviously won the most important thing in the NBA by leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA Championship. Before the season, Leonard was not favorably viewed because of his injury fiasco in San Antonio. Now, he is once again one of the highest-touted players in the NBA.

Heck, Leonard has the fourth-best MVP odds on Oddshark, coming in at 8/1 behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry and James Harden. While it might seem like a smart bet, Leonard is not even a viable option to win the MVP award.

Is Leonard good enough to win MVP? Absolutely, just look what he did with the Raptors as he was the best player on the planet for a month during the playoffs. That kind of play over the regular season, alongside his phenomenal defense, would absolutely make him an MVP-caliber player.

The problem with Kawhi Leonard winning MVP is his workload. The Raptors had to rest Leonard for 22 games last season and the Clippers are likely going to do the same. The end goal is the NBA Championship and Leonard is not a selfish person that is going to sacrifice that for his own personal honors.

So in reality, it might be a good thing that Leonard is a not a viable MVP candidate, at least for fans of the Los Angeles Clippers. Sure, him resting in the regular season could lose some regular-season games, but I would much rather lose some games in March and have him be 100 percent, rather than 70 percent, in the playoffs.

Next. The two biggest worries for the Clippers in 2019. dark

So if that betting line entices you then I highly suggest that you stay away from it. You are much better off betting Giannis or Curry.

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