For decades, the Los Angeles Lakers have used the natural advantage of being in one of the country's largest markets to dominate the free agency portion of the offseason. Sam Amick of The Athletic reported the Los Angeles Clippers want to follow that example.
Amick wrote, "Neither team wanted to make any moves that cut into its financial flexibility for the future, with the Lakers prioritizing their goal of having (mostly) clean books starting next offseason and the Clippers laser-focused on the summer of 2027."
The NBA insider believed that using free agency as a tool to improve was the obvious theme for both of these teams. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic potentially being on the horizon in 2027 were noted as the speculated targets of the two franchises like-minded approach.
While it is admirable that the Clippers want to take a page out of the Lakers' playbook, it is a bit laughable. Being the 'little brother' franchise will always have its drawbacks. Situations like these should be one of them.
Free agency will always be the Lakers' playground
Apart from the Kawhi Leonard saga in 2019, where the Clippers admittedly bested the Lakers in pursuit of a major free agent, this has been a one-sided matchup in the offseason. The Clippers have just never had the same type of allure that the Lakers possess.
It should be noted that it is more than fair to question both of these team's approach right now. Perhaps this next thought suffers a bit from being a prisoner of the moment, but is free agency really an effective strategy to build from within the current NBA landscape?
The CBA and its newer financial restrictions have clearly impacted the environment. 2025 has felt like one of the dullest times for what has usually been a lively spectacle.
About a week-and-a-half into NBA free agency, here are the best available free agents by position:
PG
D. Lillard (if he chooses to sign this year)
J. Giddey (R)
C. Paul
M. Brogdon
R. Westbrook
B. Simmons
SG
Q. Grimes (R)
C. Thomas (R)
D. Melton
G. Payton II
A. Burks
SF
A.…
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 9, 2025
Granted, those restrictions have impacted the middle-tier of free agents far more than anyone else. For the Lakers and Clippers, Antetokounmpo and Jokic certainly tower much higher on the NBA's totem pole of players.
However, it is just as crucial to question whether either of those superstars would want to just hit the open market. Both of them could comfortably put in a trade request and have enough sway over their future to land where they want to.
All this being said, if there is an open competition in 2027 for these two elite talents, why would the Clippers believe they can hang with the Lakers? Steve Ballmer has helped the Clippers' image. However, playing with Luka Doncic is a much better selling point than Ballmer's courtside intensity.
If these two find themselves in direction competition during the near future, there should be an obvious winner. That would be the Lakers, of course.