The Los Angeles Clippers are operating as though the team will have cap space to make additions in free agency, according to NBA insider Zach Lowe.
“I don’t know if this has been decided yet, but someone who would know told me [Wednesday] that the Clippers are telling or behaving I guess as though they’re going to have cap space in the offseason,” Lowe reported during Thursday’s episode of the Zach Lowe Show (h/t RealGM).
“They can’t open much,” he added. “They can open about $20 million but they have to cut some options and renounce some guys.”
Lowe also brought up the possibility of the Clippers creating more financial flexibility to sign LeBron James, via RealGM.
James is currently set to hit unrestricted free agency, as there reportedly hasn’t been much communication between himself and the Los Angeles Lakers regarding a new deal.
The potential to pair the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is intriguing, although Leonard has been linked to the Detroit Pistons on the trade market.
NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Leonard wouldn’t be willing to sign a long-term deal if he were traded to Detroit, though.
Even if James doesn’t join the Clippers, they could still create more cap flexibility as they look to build around Leonard and Darius Garland while attempting to improve upon a 42-40 finish last season.
