Clippers Rope In Controversial Ex-Hornets Star Amid Devastating Kawhi Leonard Injury Update

The Los Angeles Clippers are looking to strengthen their roster with the 2024 playoffs right around the corner. The Clippers have locked the 4th spot in the Western Conference standings for quite a while now, which means that they would face the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs. In preparation for that crucial series against the Mavs, the Clips have decided to add former Hornets’ center Kai Jones to their roster.

According to the Athletics’ Shams Charania, “Kai Jones is finalizing a multiyear deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, joining their playoff roster.” Kai Jones will take up the last remaining roster spot of the Clippers. However, in order to facilitate Jones’ acquisition, LA has decided to waive Josh Primo’s contract. This is a massive opportunity for Jones, who was released by the Charlotte Hornets due to his unhinged off-court antics.

Before the Los Angeles Clippers decided to take a punt on him, Kai Jones also earned a 10-day contract with the Delaware Blue Coats, the G-League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. Jones managed to play just two games during his 10-day stint with the Blue Coats. In his two games, Jones averaged 11 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Kai Jones even impressed the 76ers, HC Nick Nurse. Nurse said, “I went up (to Wilmington) last night and watched him. He did some good things. He’s got some size, he’s got some athleticism.”

Despite impressing Nick Nurse, the Sixers hierarchy decided against handing Jones a new contract. However, the Los Angeles Clippers’ management has certainly seen something which the 76ers didn’t. But this news has gone somewhat under the radar, as Clippers’ HC Ty Lue provided a concerning Kawhi Leonard injury update. Lue stated that Kawhi will be “hopeful” for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Mavs.

Can the Los Angeles Clippers win the 2024 NBA title?

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the few teams, who experts think, have a legitimate chance at winning the 2024 NBA title. In fact, bookmakers in Vegas have given the Clippers the third best odds for a title win at +800, only behind the Celtics and Nuggets. However, they have looked shaky in their last few games. The Clippers have severely missed Kawhi Leonard, who led them in scoring with 23.7 points per game. Furthermore, the Clippers have won just 7 out of the 13 matches that he has missed this season.

Despite Kawhi Leonard’s absence, the Clippers still have three Hall of Famers in Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Paul George. With reliable role players such as Ivica Zubac, Norman Powell, and Terence Mann complementing their star power, the Clippers boast one of the strongest rosters in the league.

However, getting past a resurgent Mavs’ side won’t be a cakewalk. Post the trade deadline, the Mavericks have been the in-form team of the NBA, winning 21 out of their 29 games. During this period, both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have taken their game to the next level, if that’s even possible. There are no easy games in the playoffs, and the Clippers matchups with the Mavs certainly have the potential to become all-time classics. But which team would come out on top?