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Author Message   Saarang Kurra Bewarse Username: Saarang Post Number: 1811 Registered: 04-2015 Posted From: 206.29.176.52 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 Posted on Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 1:18 pm:    Zach Lowe on Clippers The guys who swing championships don't care about picks you've gathered, that 20-year-old point guard who looks like a future All-Star, the pristine cap sheet, how artfully you've manipulated Rodney McGruder's cap hold. The Clippers had all of that to sell Kawhi Leonard as they stalked him across the NBA for a year. It didn't matter. Leonard wanted Paul George. As my head was spinning with news of two intertwined deals -- the trade for George and signing of Leonard -- that reshape at least three franchises, my brain lingered briefly on two forgotten side plots: Blake Griffin and the Indiana Pacers. In that scenario, the Clippers never acquire the rest of the motherlode (and it is a freaking motherlode) they sent the Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and two Miami Heat picks -- the first acquired from Philadelphia in exchange for Tobias Harris (who was acquired in exchange for Griffin), the second as incentive for absorbing Maurice Harkless this week. The Clippers wagered Griffin, with a worrisome injury history, would not have that sort of appeal. Despite the cost they paid for George -- which was really the cost for a George/Leonard package anyway -- they wagered correctly. Leonard understands the importance of star two-way wings, both in winning titles and in enabling his team to manage his playing time. I don't think Griffin draws him to the Clippers. The Clippers didn't lose all the direct and indirect proceeds of the Griffin trade here, either. Landry Shamet remains. They turned one of Philadelphia's picks (via Harris) into Mfiondu Kabengele with a draft-day trade. The extra financial wiggle room allowed them to snare Harkless and McGruder -- rangy wings who fit alongside Leonard and give the Clippers even more leeway managing the ol' load. And now they have the best wing combination in the league. Leonard, George, and Beverley are going to terrorize people on defense. My god. Beware dribbling anywhere in their vicinity unless you are an expert point guard. George and Beverley can split duty defending the best opposing scorers so Leonard doesn't have to overtax himself before it counts.