Clippers need to blow it up. Trade Kawhi Leonard. Or Paul George. Or both

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Paul George, left, and Kawhi Leonard were on the court together for only 38 of the Clippers’ 87 games this season. Neither of them were able to play in the final three games of a first-round playoff loss to Phoenix. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Ty Lue spoke for the frustration of Clipper Nation in Phoenix on Tuesday night when the coach bemoaned another lost season with his two biggest stars on the bench.

“It’s always in the back of your mind … ’What if?’ ” Lue said.

Except he was asking the wrong question.

It should be, “What now?”

And the answer should be, in the wake of the first-round loss to the Suns, the Clippers need to break up a one-two punch that continually has smacked them in the face.

Trade Paul George. Trade Kawhi Leonard. Heck, trade them both, pick up two reliable and available stars, and build on the sort of young and gutsy effort that was so impressive against the Suns.

Trade them even though you want to march a glittery band into the new arena in 2024. Trade them because fans are tired of all the injuries. They’re sick of all the load management. New ticket holders for the new digs want new hope, and only an implosion of the current locker room will deliver that.

Granted, it could be impossible to trade them considering they both will make $45.6 million next season, both are in their 30s and both are plenty beat up.

If that’s the case and you’re really forced to run this nightmare back one more year, do not — do not! — give them the contract extension for which they are eligible. Don’t even think about it. An extension for either would simply extend the Clipper Nation’s pain.

Yes, the Clippers are a championship team when George and Leonard play together, but they’re rarely together. They were on the court for only 38 of the team’s 87 games this season. Their 24-14 record during that time was basically meaningless because, once again, they couldn’t do it together when it counted.

For four straight years they haven’t done it together when it counted. When is owner Steve Ballmer going to say enough is enough? He wasn’t afraid to pull the plug on Doc Rivers and…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/column-clippers-blow-trade-kawhi-212420748.html?src=rss

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2023-04-26 21:24:20

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