The Miami Heat just landed a pretty big fish in Victor Oladipo, but the pond might get a bit bigger this summer. Will the Heat have have to bother themselves with another big name pursuit?
Kawhi Leonard, of the Los Angles Clippers, could potentially have another free agency decision to make here pretty soon, in case you were wondering. Forgive but to be honest, the Leonard to Los Angeles move hasn’t been what everyone thought it would be.
Yes, it’s only Leonard’s second season with Los Angeles, but the expectations were that he was there to take over LA and ruin LeBron James‘s time there along the way. But, as we all saw last year in the playoffs, who got the last laugh?
Though there is pain there in that admission, it’s the truth.
However though and also with Leonard having the flexibility of a player option at the end of this year, it begs the question, what happens if Los Angeles gets bounced in the first or second round of this year’s playoffs? Would Leonard stick around for another year of Playoff P, Paul George, who has struggled in the playoffs over the past couple of years?
Should Miami Heat Keep An Eye On Kawhi Leonard’s Free Agency?
To go even deeper there, the Clippers are also working with a roster that cant improve much due to a lack of assets, mainly draft picks and especially once you also consider the lack of true potency amongst this year’s free agency class. It is make or break time in Clipper Land.
If taken back to two years ago, it was then when the Toronto Raptors won their first championship in franchise history and mostly due to the help from a mercenary in Kawhi Leonard. Leonard ran that entire summer, fresh off of a NBA title and Finals MVP.
It really was the “Summer of Kawhi”. It was really down to three teams as the finalists for Leonard then though, the reigning champion Toronto Raptors, at the time, while both Los Angles teams were also in play.
Everyone thought Leonard was trying to go back home, where there were always rumors of him wanting to do just that. Leonard supposedly wanted to play for the other Los Angles team though, the Clippers, but did not want to join them alone.
Looking at the scenario now, you have to imagine that Paul George was it first call, right? Wrong.
Is Jimmy Butler The Miami Heat’s Binding Tie To Kawhi Leonard In Free Agency?
It was the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler, with Kevin Durant being his second call, which made George the third. If George has another lackluster playoff performance, what would be the point of Leonard re-signing in Los Angeles, beside being home and the $17 million dollar house he just purchased there?
If we are talking strictly basketball reasons, Miami is the place Leonard should be looking at. The Miami Heat would have another Big 3, minimally, in Leonard, Butler and Bam Adebayo and a pretty Medium 4, at worst, if they can hold on to Victor Oladipo.
In Los Angles it is Leonard, George, and a bunch of role players. That’s really it, while they’ve, sort of, maxed out to fill out that roster in the process.
Miami has more depth and the right kind of teammates who all want to put in the work to have better playoff performances. Doesn’t Butler seem more like a Leonard guy than Paul George?
The Miami Heat’s front office got a lot of backlash this year due to not being fully involved in the James Harden sweepstakes, as many wanted. With that and If Los Angeles flames out of the playoffs early, you have to think Miami will be all over Leonard in free agency, right?
Pat Riley wants one more title before he goes off into the sunset, at least, and signing Leonard could be Riley’s final gift to the franchise. This summer is going to be a very important one for Miami because Butler isn’t getting any younger and Miami needs to strike while the iron is hot.
Could you imagine Victor Oladipo, Leonard, Butler and Adebayo potentially all guarding the perimeter? That is a scary sight for any defense.
It would be a lovely sight for fans and supporters of the Heat though. So, Miami Heat fans, this postseason is the one to be totally rooting against any good that the Clippers may do.