Sunday, July 7, 2019

Clip City, Chip City?

(via Getty Images)


The NBA world was shaken up on Friday night and it wasn't because of the 7.1 earthquake that hit the Las Vegas Summer League.

It was the announcement that Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was going to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. Whats even more mind boggling is that he will also be joined by All-Star Forward Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Kawhi Leonard has agreed to the 4 years, $142 million full max contract to join the Clippers. Meanwhile, the Clippers also traded away G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, F Danilo Gallinari and a record number 4 unprotected 1st round picks with the rights to swap some future picks as well to acquire G/F Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder.  

This surprise trade is what was causing the delay in the Leonard's decision and keeping the basketball world on its toes. The delayed announcement was giving the Clippers time to find a second star to pair with Kawhi Leonard as that seemed to be a conditional factor for him in joining the Los Angeles Clippers. If the Clippers were not able to acquire Paul George or a similar caliber star Leonard might be on a different team right now. 

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle
This rattling move has caused another shift in the NBA landscape as the fringe playoff team can be considered the favorite to win the whole thing next year. 

The beauty of this signing is that Clippers executive and NBA mastermind Jerry West was able to retain all of the key players (Beverly, Williams, Harrell) that, without Leonard and PG, were able to take a fully loaded and healthy Warriors team to six games in the first round of the playoffs. 

The hosts of Speak For Yourself, Marcellus Wiley and Jason Whitlock's moniker 'Clip City, Chip City' seems to have been spoken into existence for these Los Angeles Clippers.