The Los Angeles Clippers were one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season, winning 48 games and making the Western Conference playoffs.
Sure, they are about to be eliminated by the Golden State Warriors, but that does not detract from the terrific year they have had.
Of course, this is considered by most to be a bridge year for the Clippers, as just about everyone expects them to land at least one big-name free agent this summer.
The most likely candidate to sign in Los Angeles seems to be Kawhi Leonard. After all, he wants LA, and with LeBron James on the Lakers, he doesn't seem to want the Purple and Gold all that much anymore.
That leaves the Clippers, a team Leonard appears very open to joining.
But could the Clips actually bring in two star free agents?
That certainly seems to be the plan for Jerry West and Co., and if you have been watching West for the last couple of decades or so, you would know that he has given us zero reason to doubt that he is capable of pulling this off.
While the Clippers have not said anything publicly and won't be saying anything publicly, you would have to assume that they have their sights on pairing up Leonard and Kevin Durant, a duo that would rock the NBA landscape.
Both players are set to be unrestricted free agents this offseason, and neither player is considered likely to return to their incumbent teams.
Now, for realism's sake, we must consider the fact that Los Angeles would have to dump a bit of salary to make this happen (maybe Danilo Gallinari?), but again, this is Jerry West we are talking about here. Possibly the best executive basketball has ever seen.
Just imagine for a second a tandem of Durant and Leonard along with improving young players such as Montrezl Harrell and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. That would be a nasty group that would probably assume Western Conference dominance.
I know most of the talk right now is about Durant going to the New York Knicks, but the Clippers unquestionably seem like a better fit, as they are already a playoff team and have much stronger brainpower in the front office.
Remember: Durant is also playing against the Clips right now, so I'm sure he sees just how promising all of that young talent is.
Imagine Durant joining those young guns, and imagine Leonard coming along with him.
This is no some pie in the sky, either. This has a legitimate chance of happening, as the Clippers have the money to make this happen. Not only that, but it's LA. It's not the Lakers, but it's still LA.
The Clippers will likely be one of the most aggressive teams in the free-agent market this summer. While Leonard seems like a much easier target than Durant, they could probably sell KD on the idea of signing.
Durant would be joining an instant title contender and would be in Hollywood on top of that. Seems like a slam dunk move to me.
Of course, Los Angeles needs to have a backup plan in the event that Durant goes elsewhere, and that Plan B will almost surely be Jimmy Butler, who seems to be playing his final days as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Either way, the main idea for the Clippers is to snare two star players this offseason, and the chances of them being able to snatch two of those three (Leonard, Durant and Butler) actually seem pretty high.
And think about it: if the Clips are already winning 48 games and are already being a pain for the Warriors, imagine just how good they would be if they added Durant and Leonard to this bunch?
Plus, one thing we know about Doc Rivers is that while he may not be the greatest X's and O's coach, he is an incredible motivator and is one of the best in the business when it comes to managing egos, so there is little doubt that he would earn Durant and Leonard's respect.
That also serves as another reason for Durant to favor the Clippers over the Knicks. Do you think he would rather play for a proven coach like Rivers, or a guy who has seemed to do nothing but rub players the wrong way in David Fizdale?
This really seems like a match made in basketball heaven for Durant and Leonard, who would not only terrorize opposing defenses, but would also make life miserable for opposing offenses due to their length, athleticism and ability to switch virtually everything.
One thing we know is that the NBA is going to look very different a few months from now. The question is, which teams will be reaping the benefits?
The Clippers seem like a pretty likely candidate.
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