NBA: 5 championship contenders after Kawhi Leonard’s decision

Los Angeles Clippers

Even Though the Clippers did not have a superstar last year, they were still a well-oiled machine who played with elite competitiveness and toughness. Add Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to that mix, they’re right up there among the top cream of teams in the NBA.

While they already were a force to be dealt with on the defensive end, adding these two top tier wings makes them arguably the best defensive perimeter defense in the league, at least on paper. On offense, they’ve got two bonafide scorers who can put the ball in the hole at a high level, make big shots, and take over games.

Combine that with a nice blend of complementary pieces who fit their roles and do not need the ball as much makes the Clippers really scary on both ends of the floor. Doc Rivers’ championship pedigree has the potential to bear huge dividends as well.

The only question is whether Kawhi’s and Paul George’s redundant skillsets get in the way, and that is something we can know for sure until they’ve got a considerable amount of games under their belt.