For years now, the Los Angeles Clippers have been trying to put together an NBA championship-caliber team and last year, they thought they had all the pieces together, but they ultimately came up short of their goal. They lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals after being up three games to one and after switching things up roster wise, the Clippers are ready to try again at a deep postseason run.
Led by both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers definitely have the leadership and experience to be a team that rivals the likes of the Lakers, Suns and Jazz for the top spot in the Western Conference this season, but do they have what it takes to win the Western Conference and go to the NBA Finals?
Due to them not having much cap space or valuable draft assets on their roster, the Clippers did not make a massive move at the trade deadline, but they did move veteran guard Lou Williams for a 2x NBA champion point guard in Rajon Rondo.
One thing that really hurt the Clippers last season was their lack of playoff experience outside of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, but now this season, they are one of the oldest and most experienced teams in the league, which is why they have their best chance ever to potentially reach the NBA Finals.
If they however come up short of their ultimate goal once again and struggle in the postseason like in years past, then it is a very real possibility that the Clippers could completely flip their roster upside down. Los Angeles would emerge as a focal point in NBA trade rumors at that point.
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Both Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka have player options for next season and if things go terribly wrong for this team, not only could both of these players opt to leave Los Angeles, but the Clippers could be forced to make some quick decisions in terms of finding championship talent to pair with Paul George.
If this happens, then the Clippers could be in the market to make a blockbuster trade, which is why Russell Westbrook could be in the picture for them. Westbrook joined the Wizards prior to the start of this season, but with them likely to miss the playoffs and frustration setting in for the Wizards, they could look to move on from Russ in the offseason.
George spent two seasons with Russ in OKC prior to requesting a trade to the Clippers, so could the two of them team up once again in Los Angeles? Let’s take a look at a hypothetical offseason trade scenario presented by Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz that would be the “doomsday” trade scenario for the Clippers.
