Clippers Reportedly Exploring Possibility of Pairing Kawhi Leonard With Jimmy Butler

It seems increasingly likely that Kawhi Leonard will land in Los Angeles in free agency, but it may not be with the obvious choice in the Lakers.

In fact, it's the Clippers who are reportedly exploring the possibility of bringing in Leonard and pairing him with Jimmy Butler.

Such a pairing would no doubt make the Clippers true contenders once again, especially under head coach Doc Rivers.

Leonard has made it clear that if he is to leave Toronto, which seems increasingly possible, he wants to be joined by another top-tier free agent. Butler fits that billing perfectly.

A four-time All-Star and a strong defender that's been named to four NBA All-Defensive teams, Butler would pair perfectly with Leonard. The two could wreak defensive havoc on one end of the floor and deliver offensive mayhem on the other.

Leonard and Butler averaged 26.2 and 18.7 points respectively last year. The two of them teaming up could provide the Clippers with the star power that they've been lacking now that Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul are gone.

They'd also provide a defensive pedigree that the Clippers haven't quite seen since DeAndre Jordan left in free agency at the end of 2018.

It'll be interesting to see whether or not this comes to pass. If it does, the Clippers will be adding two of the best defensive stars in basketball to a team that managed to win 48 games last year.