There are certain free agent signings that can absolutely shift the entire perception of a franchise. 2019 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was the most coveted player in a talent-packed class two years ago, and the Clippers beat out everybody else ā€” including their crosstown rivals ā€” by acquiring the highly coveted signature of the two-time NBA champ.

For those who know their Clippers history, however, they will know that this is not the first time this team has struck gold in free agency. Below we have the five best free agent signings the Clippers have ever made in franchise history, with some unique circumstances surrounding several of them.

5. Cuttino Mobley

Cuttino Mobley was by no means a superstar. Moreover, he was already 30 and nearing the twilight of his career when he signed with the Clippers as an unrestricted free agent in 2005. However, what made this such an important acquisition for LA was that he was arguably the first significant free agent signing of the new era.

The Clippers were on the rise at this point, with the likes of Elton Brand and Corey Maggette at the helm. However, one could say that Mobley put them over the edge. The 6-foot-4 combo guard was instrumental for the team as they won their first-ever playoff series that season.

In four seasons with LA, Mobley averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 triples prior to his retirement in 2009.

4. DeAndre Jordan

DeAndre Jordan, now with the Brooklyn Nets, was part and parcel of the Lob City era in LA. Along with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, this trio electrified the league night in and night out with their high-flying exhibition.

Jordan was drafted by the Clippers in 2008 early in the second round, and it wasn't until years after his rookie campaign that he started making a significant impact for the team. Come 2015, the 6-foot-11 big man's contract was up, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Multiple reports suggested that he had already agreed to terms on a new deal with the Dallas Mavericks, but at the 13th hour, Jordan made a memorable U-turn after allegedly being ā€œkidnappedā€ by Paul and Griffin to convince him to stay. That turn of events is one of the most memorable moments in Clippers history, which is the very reason why we just had to include Jordan on this list.

3. Elton Brand

The Clippers acquired Brand in 2001 in a trade deal with the Chicago Bulls. He made an instant impact in LA, being named in his first of two All-Star team appearances. By 2003, the 6-foot-8 forward became a restricted free agent. With a lot of teams showing interest in the prized big man, the Clippers were forced to dig deep into their pockets to match a Miami Heat offer sheet, which came out to the tune of $82 million.

The move paid off for the team, with Brand leading the squad to their first postseason appearance in 2006 after nearly a decade. They also progressed to the second round, where they eventually fell to Phoenix Suns in an exciting seven-game series. Simply put, Brand was the main man for LA in the early 2000s.

2. Chris Paul

Widely regarded as one of the best point guard this league has ever seen, Chris Paul was the Clippers' best free agent signing of all time prior to the summer of 2019 (more on that later). Paul arrived in LA in 2011 following a botched move to the Lakers. The Clippers were obviously not his first choice, but things clicked, and the team would make its first playoff appearance since Brand and company achieved the same five years prior.

Two season later, Paul became an unrestricted free agent. Much like Brand, he too had plenty of suitors in free agency. However, CP3 decided to stay with the Clippers on a five-year deal to keep Lob City going.

Paul was named to the All-Star squad five times during his six years in LA, averaging 18.8 points (on 47.5 percent shooting), 4.2 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.5 triples per ballgame.

1. Kawhi Leonard

Clippers, Kawhi Leonard

Despite not even being with the Clippers for two full years, we just have to give the top spot to Leonard. As mentioned earlier, he was the biggest name in a free agent class that included the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Jimmy Butler, and Klay Thompson, to name a few. Those are some Hall of Fame-caliber players right there, so the fact that Kawhi was at the very top of the list speaks volumes of his level of talent.

What also makes this acquisition so impressive is how Leonard also brought Paul George with him. These two came in a 2-for-1 package, and while the Clippers gave up a ton of assets just to make this deal come to fruition, it appears that it will all be worth it.

The Leonard signing was without a doubt a franchise-altering one, as it instantly propelled the Clippers from a fun threat to legitimate title contenders. There is arguably no other time in this team's entire history that they have been this highly regarded in the league, which easily makes Kawhi the greatest Clippers free agent signing ever.

So, do you agree with this list of the best free agent signings in Clippers history?