Despite Paul George departing in the 2024 NBA free agency period, the Clippers aren’t in a rebuilding phase, as they still have veteran stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden under contract for several more years.
However, former NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins has advised Leonard to seek a trade from the Clippers and explore opportunities elsewhere to compete for a championship.
“If I were Kawhi Leonard, I would request a move,” Perkins stated on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on July 1. “Having won two NBA championships, he understands what it takes to build a championship-caliber team. The current Clippers team for the 2024-25 season doesn’t fit that description.”
Following George’s departure, the Clippers signed James Jones Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Mo Bamba, Kris Dunn, and Nic Batum. However, Perkins believes these additions won’t elevate the Clippers enough to contend for an NBA Championship in the upcoming season.
“When you look at the players they’ve brought in to replace Paul George… it’s not enough,” Perkins emphasized. “Where does that leave them? Perhaps fighting for a playoff spot or a play-in tournament berth, but not much beyond that.”