Following the devastating fallout from their infamous salary cap circumvention scandal that catered to Kawhi Leonard, whispers now surround the Los Angeles Clippers' upcoming plans.
There is team-wide curiosity about how the Clippers will approach their future, given the franchise-altering consequences the NBA imposed on them for ruining the league's integrity.
"Given that the team is not predicted to be a contender for the NBA title this coming season, some team sources wondered whether the Clippers might begin a fire sale and trade away all but its best, young players, to replenish its future draft assets as much as possible — a move to 'tank' their record that Ballmer previously never found palatable," Andrew Greif of NBC News reported.
"There was also the question of whether the league might try to seize the two first-round picks the Clippers are reportedly due to receive from the Raptors in exchange for Leonard — picks that would be extremely helpful in offsetting the five it will forfeit."
NBA punishment ruins Clippers future
For giving Kawhi Leonard several under-the-table deals that manipulated the salary cap, the NBA dropped the hammer by giving the harshest punishment possible against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Beyond suspensions of Steve Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, and Lawrence Frank, LA has been stripped of five future first-round picks.
Counting the picks they have surrendered to the Oklahoma City Thunder from the disastrous 2019 Paul George trade, the Clippers will only be eligible to pick their own first-round selection by 2034, putting the entire organization in a difficult position.
By acquiring Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks (2031, 2033), a 2027 pick swap, and two second-round picks in the pending Leonard trade with the Toronto Raptors, the Clippers will at least gain plenty of needed assets to recover their future. They also still have Darius Garland as their new franchise face.
Nevertheless, having no picks for nearly a decade is a gut-wrenching blow the franchise needs to prepare for.