If the Clippers seek a deal, the Nuggets may be interested in Leonard and the Big Three will win the championship again

According to Sidant Gupta, senior contributor of US sports media F/W. If the Los Angeles Clippers choose to explore deals involving Kawhi Leonard, they might attract a lot of attention. The Nuggets, Cavaliers and Heat may show interest in this star. This article focuses on analyzing the Dandong Nuggets, one of Leonard's potential destinations, to form a Big Three lineup to win the championship again.

The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves at an awkward crossroads. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George’s original duo have been eager to win the championship for years, with injuries, instability and playoff heartbreak leaving the team with more questions than answers. Leonard remains one of the league’s most influential elite players when he is healthy, as evidenced by his performance against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. However, with another failed season, the Clippers’ current core time may be ticking. The importance of this striker to the team cannot be underestimated. After winning the championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Leonard joined the Clippers in hopes of bringing similar success to the team.

Although the Clippers do seem to be one of the best teams in the league, their star forwards have been plagued by injuries and find themselves sitting on the bench for more time than they do on the court. This season is no exception, as the forward has played in only 37 games in the regular season. This is a reason to consider a transaction. But his performance in the playoffs undoubtedly gave the Clippers enough hope to keep the team's lineup for a while.

Leonard averaged 25.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game with a super efficient percentage of 53.7% in the series against Denver. The forward almost single-handedly created an opportunity for the team to enter the next round. Unfortunately, this did not become a reality. When it comes to Leonard, the Clippers always have to gamble. When he is healthy, he is extraordinary. Otherwise, he didn't even sit on the bench due to his serious injuries.

In view of this, NBA analyst Yossi Gozlan proposed the idea that the Clippers explored the possibility of trading Kawhi Leonard. As Nuggets management hopes to help Jokic win a second title, they will try to bring in Leonard.

The Denver Nuggets established legal Big Three

Denver Nuggets: Leonard

Los Angeles Clippers: Porter Jr., Najib, Saric

The Denver Nuggets were eliminated in the second round after losing to the top seed Oklahoma City Thunder, which was disappointing. While Nikola Jokic's talent continues to shine, the Nuggets have bigger issues to deal with. Murray and Porter Jr. performed the worst in Game 7. While Murray still performed well in some games, the downturn with Porter Jr. was shocking. In view of this, he can be traded. The acquisition of Leonard could prove to be a task for the Nuggets, especially given their salary profile. However, if they can manage to make the deal, Denver will add one of the most all-around two-way players in the league and become a title contender right away. The forward provided the power of their offense. With Jokic having one of the most efficient scorers as a pass option, the Nuggets’ star trio can score on any defense in the league. In addition, Gordon and Leonard's defense are expected to become a force that cannot be ignored.

For the Clippers, this move allowed Porter Jr. to regain a scorer who is only 26 years old and still has room to grow. Najib added athleticism and rejuvenation in the frontcourt, while Saric provided salary bench depth. While the deal doesn’t do much to the Clippers, it provides them with a group of young players who can quickly grow under James Harden as an important part of the team’s progress.