Fansided

NBA post-free agency power rankings

By Brendon Kleen

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 07: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 07: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on April 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

17. Los Angeles Clippers

It might be the quickest pivot in NBA history.

Six months after trading Blake Griffin to Detroit, the Clippers are in position to potentially be more successful this year than last while also more flexible for the summer of 2019.

They signed Avery Bradley, Mike Scott and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to one-year deals, traded for Marcin Gortat (also expiring) and kept Tobias Harris, the main coup in the Griffin deal (shocker, he’s expiring too). Los Angeles could create $63 million in cap space in 2019, enough to set their sights on two max-salary free agents.

“I think he’d be very much open to the Clippers,” said Yahoo! Sports’ Shams Charania on Fox Sports 1 last month, speaking about Kawhi Leonard.

It hasn’t worked since Chris Paul was traded to the franchise in 2011, but Los Angeles’ other team remains a player in any conversation about stars who want to play in Southern California. That includes Jimmy Butler, who grew up in the area like Leonard and will also be a free agent in 2019.

The shrewd moves of Jerry West and Lawrence Frank in the Clippers’ front office have set the franchise up for present and future success.

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