Invoice Simmons and Zach Lowe imagine the LA Clippers are taking part in the lengthy recreation to land Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2027. The Milwaukee Bucks famous person may have a participant possibility. If he would not lengthen with Milwaukee on the finish of subsequent 12 months, a number of groups may gear as much as pursue the two-time MVP in potential unrestricted free company.
In accordance with Simmons, the $5,500,000,000 price Clippers will go all in with “cash” being no issue.
“For those who’re the Clippers, within the brief time period, you’ll be able to compete with a puncher’s probability for a title,” Simmons mentioned on Wednesday’s episode of his podcast.
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“However in the long run, you could have $20 million in your books in the summertime of 2027. You simply have Zubac, that is it … They’re in the perfect place, [Steve] Balmer would not care about cash … I feel that is their end-game.”
In the meantime, Lowe identified how Clippers GM Lawrence Frank would not function “subtly.” He revisited the staff’s ploy in 2019 to land Kawhi Leonard and the way the pinnacle of the brass was current at Toronto’s video games earlier than ultimately signing the two-time finals MVP.
How Clippers have positioned themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2027 NBA free company
The LA Clippers have all however one participant on their books after the 2026-27 NBA season ends, when Giannis Antetokounmpo doubtlessly hits free company. Together with having the richest proprietor within the league, Steve Balmer, who, per Forbes, is price $142.5 billion, the Clippers may have essentially the most cap area obtainable, with solely $21.0 million in assured cash allotted to middle Ivica Zubac.
The opposite gamers both have a 12 months or two in assured cash with participant choices for subsequent 12 months, together with stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers have nonetheless managed to remain aggressive with the short-term contracts, including items like John Collins, Bradley Beal and Chris Paul this offseason.
They’re arguably in the perfect place to signal Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2027 if he opts out and turns into a free agent, particularly if the Bucks do not win throughout that stretch.
Not solely will Giannis have the lure of taking part in in an enormous market, however he may even have a dependable possession and entrance workplace, which have been keen to shell out their cash on infrastructure and bettering the staff round its stars.
Most groups are projected to have the cap area. Notably, the Clippers’ cross-town rivals, the Lakers, too. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are prone to be those below contract, so Giannis Antetokounmpo may have some assist the second he indicators with the staff.
However, the Clippers have overwhelmed the Lakers to the punch as soon as six years in the past in 2019, when each pursued Kawhi Leonard. So they are going to have a practical probability to signal Giannis in two years.
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Edited by Arhaan Raje
