Both the New Orleans and Los Angeles Clippers are waiting until next season, with the former failing to make the postseason while the latter went home thanks to Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns. The Pelicans dropped badly as the final weeks of the season went by because Zion Williamson only appeared in 29 games, and the pressure was mainly on former All-Star Brandon Ingram, who managed 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.8 APG this season. As great as Ingram was, the Pelicans struggled as they finished 9th in the Western Conference at 42-40 and could not make the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Clippers made the playoffs, but they ran into the juggernaut Phoenix Suns. Paul George missed the entire series, and Kawhi Leonard was not available to play following Game 2, ending the team’s chances of getting past the superteam Suns led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Quite frankly, the Clippers were undermanned even if Russell Westbrook returned to All-Star form by posting 23.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 7.4 APG in 38.4 MPG.
Looking ahead to next year, there are big questions about the Los Angeles Clippers and how they will attack the 2023-24 NBA season after yet another injury to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is one of the most frustrating players in the NBA to follow because he just can’t keep healthy, which is why an esteemed NBA analyst called him the worst superstar in NBA history. There are also reports that Leonard could be looking for a new place to call home. Meanwhile, the Pelicans are getting frustrated with the lack of playoff appearances despite having big names such as Zion and Ingram. New Orleans’ GM also has seemingly had enough of Zion missing games and a leader of Leonard’s caliber coming in could get him back on track.
If nothing else, Kawhi Leonard could use a change of scenery, and a team that could pounce to snatch the two-time Finals MVP is the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster deal that would be shocking to see happen. Could the Pelicans possibly have enough trade assets to take a gamble on Kawhi Leonard?
Kawhi has not played at least 65 games since the 2016-17 season with the San Antonio Spurs, but he is still one of the best players in the world and when healthy, is easily a top-five competitor in the NBA. Here is the massive trade deal that will give the New Orleans Pelicans a massive superteam to compete for the Western Conference Finals next year, especially if Zion Williamson is healthy.
Trade Package: Brandon Ingram, Herbert Jones, Jose Alvarado, 2023 First-Round Pick for Kawhi Leonard
Obviously, this trade makes the Clippers younger with three talented players that can defend and score along with a first-round pick. The team would have a new All-Star duo with George and Ingram headlining the future while the Pelicans bring in one of the greatest two-way stars of all time to pair with Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum. Here is why this deal works for both sides.
New Orleans Take A Chance With Kawhi Like The Toronto Raptors
The New Orleans Pelicans have waited patiently for Zion Williamson to stay healthy and Brandon Ingram has had to make up for the superstar’s absence. The team finished over .500 this season, but they had no shot to make the postseason, with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking them out due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s clutch performance. But to grab Kawhi Leonard, arguably a top-3 player in the world when healthy, they will have to sacrifice franchise star Brandon Ingram.
Similar to what Toronto did in the 2018-19 season, New Orleans can take a massive gamble with the hopes of the acquisition forcing Zion to get his act together. Leonard is 31 years old and is clearly a more dominant player than Ingram, meaning New Orleans could take another step forward with a blockbuster deal of this caliber. The Clippers would also ask for a first-round pick and the Clippers will have to answer accordingly. The title window for teams in the West is wide open because the conference is winnable if they can acquire a player that can compete with elite stars such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic. A lineup of CJ McCollum, Josh Richardson, Kawhi Leonard, Zion Williamson, and Jonas Valanciunas will likely be a playoff team that is a massive threat.
The New Orleans Pelicans want to win games, and they cannot afford to keep running it back as Zion Williamson gets older and doesn’t play. Losing Ingram, their best player since Anthony Davis was on the roster, will hurt. But they can replace him with an all-time great talent in Kawhi, who seems to be more focused when he is in a destination that isn’t of his choosing. Leonard has talent to work with including Zion, McCollum, and Valanciunas who can all be stars in any given game. As great as Ingram is, Kawhi Leonard is on another level as a superstar player and on-court leader.
Los Angeles Get Younger And Healthier
Kawhi Leonard has missed far too many games in the last few seasons. He has not led the Los Angeles Clippers to the NBA Finals just yet, as the closest he got was the Western Conference Semifinals, and blew a shocking 3-1 lead against the Denver Nuggets. Kawhi has played under 60 games per season since arriving in Los Angeles and that is hurting the team’s chemistry. Even when the superstar was finally healthy to start the playoffs, he only played two games before bowing out with a torn meniscus.
No matter what happens, it just seems Kawhi won’t ever be healthy with the Clippers franchise. Call it a curse or bad luck, but the superstar has not had it easy in Los Angeles. Yes, Kawhi is an injury-prone player, but he is a proven star and he led the Raptors to the NBA championship against all odds in 2019. It is just a matter of time before the Clippers fans become tired of Kawhi’s load management and Steve Ballmer could trade him in order to bring more picks and start a rebuild, or even acquire a proven All-Star player who can bring the youth and hustle for the Clippers.
The duo of George and Ingram can make Los Angeles playoff contenders even if Leonard is gone, especially if Russell Westbrook is retained and continues his All-Star play. Herbert Jones is a stout defender and can share minutes with Norman Powell on the wing as he improves his offensive game as well. Jose Alvarado is another defensive-minded player who Clippers fans will love because he posted 1.1 SPG this season and never gives up on a single play. With three new players coming in and a new All-Star duo that is younger since Ingram is only 25 years old, there is a new era in Los Angeles.
A Win-Win Deal That Is A Massive Gamble For New Orleans
The Toronto Raptors took a massive gamble when they traded franchise player DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard before the 2018-19 NBA season. Kawhi had only appeared in 9 games in the 2017-18 season and was beefing with teammates who were sick of the player’s inability to stay healthy. Regardless, Toronto made the move and it worked out as they won the championship in the same year. While expecting that of the Pelicans would be unfair, you can’t put it past them.
CJ McCollum has playoff experience under his belt and is a legitimate 20 PPG scorer and a terrific playmaker. He could handle playmaking duties while Jonas Valanciunas dominates the paint in double-double fashion. Of course, with Leonard coming in and expectations very high on the team, Zion Williamson could also return to the court. The superstar forward posted 26.0 PPG and 7.0 RPG through 29 games this season and has made the All-Star Team twice already at 22 years old. That is a solid Big Four that could handle any team in the Western Conference, if healthy.
Expecting Ingram to become a top-5 player in the world is the wrong strategy because he might never reach Kawhi’s elite level as a superstar. Teams win in the NBA with superstar players and the Pelicans need one to get to the next level. Meanwhile, the Clippers rebuild with a 25-year-old Ingram who can learn the ropes from Paul George on how to be a better defensive player and improve his all-around game. Jones and Alvarado bring defense and toughness while Los Angeles continues its playoff push, and a new era starts starting now and into the future.
