5 reasons Kevin Durant signs with Los Angeles Clippers
By John Buhler
1. To form arguably the best starting five in the NBA
One thing that is continuously getting overlooked about the Clippers entering 2016 NBA free agency is that the team is really just a solid starting small forward away from seriously contending for an NBA Championship this year.
Los Angeles has won at a high level under Rivers without having a deep bench. What the Clippers have continually run into issues with is at small forward. Matt Barnes was okay and Jeff Green largely underwhelmed. It’s better for the team to bring Jamal Crawford off the bench and carry the second unit than play him out of position at the three anyway.
Given that the Clippers have the salary cap space to aggressively pursue an upgrade at small forward, why would they not swing for the fences to try to bring Durant into the fold? If they fail and have to settle for a Nicolas Batum, a Harrison Barnes, or a Chandler Parsons, Los Angeles still is a championship contender next summer.
To entice Durant on a very basic level to signing with the Clippers, he just needs to look at who he will be playing with in the Clippers’ starting five. Paul is probably the best all-around point guard the NBA has seen since John Stockton. He’s a future Hall of Famer, without question.
Redick has become a well-rounded player on both ends of the floor, was nearly an All-Star in 2016, and is one of the six best three-point shooters in the game today. Griffin is an unbelievable athlete, capable of thriving on both ends of the floor at the four or five. When healthy, he’s a top five player in the game in his own right.
Lastly, Jordan is a great rebounder and defensive presence that gives this team the much needed bite when it gets too finesse. Though he’ll have a great starting five in Oklahoma City, Golden State, and San Antonio, it’s awfully tough to beat what he could have with the 2016-17 Clippers.
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