Most had assumed that if the Los Angeles Clippers wanted to sign Kevin Durant –the prize of free agency– they, for cap space reasons, would have to give up a member of their “big three:” Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, or DeAndre Jordan. However, it appears that the Clippers hope to keep their big three together, and turn it into a big four. From Dan Woike of the Orange County Register:
While all options will be discussed, the Clippers are expected to a highlight a scenario in which Durant would sign a deal to play alongside Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin.
To make the most competitive offer possible, the Clippers would have to trade J.J. Redick, Paul Pierce and C.J. Wilcox and renounce the rights to first-round pick Brice Johnson and all of their own free agents.
The Clippers could also discuss scenarios in which they trade one member of their “Big Three,” either to a team with cap space or to the Thunder in a sign-and-trade.
While they’re viewed as long shots to land Durant, who would be the biggest free-agent acquisition in team history, the team could also use the meeting to lay groundwork for next summer. Durant, in the scenario netting him the most cash, could sign a short-term max-money deal and hit free agency again next summer when the salary cap jumps again.
Durant and the Clippers do share a mutual interest in one another, hence the meeting.
If the Clippers are unable to get Durant to agree to join the team, a move that would then trigger a flurry of other moves, they’ll turn their attention to their other top priority – re-signing their own free agents.
Durant would turn the Clippers into instant title favorites (except that the Clippers curse plus Durant’s Lil B curse would probably result in the team plane being struck by lightning). Curses aside, though, this would be an incredibly talented team, though with little depth since the Clippers would have to clear out half their roster to make room for Durant.
