Randle had an excellent year for Minnesota as they overachieved as a team. For LAC, he is an absolute perfect fit, a legit PF who has a full package of skills. He’s also played with stars in Brunson and Ant and would be able to adjust to Harden/Kawhi very easily. He’s played with bigs like Hartenstein/Gobert, so the connection w/Zu would be seamless.

Clips would probably unload Bogdanovic, Eubanks and maybe Norm to make room for Randle, but LAC would be serious players with a core 4 of Harden-Kawhi-Randle-Zu.

PJ Washington could easily be available now and Norm alone might get that done.

If all else fails Boucher is unrestricted and won’t command much on the open Market which would allow us to invest the rest of the MLE in another big like perhaps Luke Kornett? Kornett might be a good target for the Lakers too but I think they need a starter. Al Horford is another possibility.

Lots of options. I think we are well positioned to have an even better season than last year.

I know a lot of folks have been talking about our need to get younger so we can play faster but simply adding some quick guys to an older collection of plow horses doesn’t make that chariot go any faster. Until we move onto the next era we will be a slower paced half court team. Denver had great success with this style against OKC so it’s not a totally futile pursuit.

• Jake LaRavia (UFA) – Could be had for the Non-Taxpayer MLE

• Tari Eason – This could only happen if Rockets have an interest in trading for Norm to get some much needed shooting. If Rockets were interested in Norm, perhaps a trade like this could come to fruition.

LAC Gets – Tari Eason, Aaron Holiday & Jock Landale

HOU Gets – Norm Powell

• Miles Bridges – This could only happen via trade. I like that Bridges can play the 3 and 4. However, we could only acquire him in a 3 team deal which are difficult to come together. Perhaps a trade like this could come to fruition. This deal would save Utah over $8 Million and allow Charlotte to get off Miles Bridges contract.

UTAH Gets – Bogdan Bogdanovic & Kobe Brown

CHA Gets – John Collins

LAC Gets – Miles Bridges

There are other options as well like Jonathan Kuminga but I think the risk is too high given what he will cost both in terms of contract value and assets to acquire.

I do think that Kawhi v.5.0 will be durable and largely free of injury for the remainder of his contract with LAC. However, I don’t think he’s a dominant player at the #4 any longer. If we want the best of Kawhi for the remainder of his time with LAC, we need to move him to the #3. The F.O.’s top priority should be to get a quality, athletic, young PF with size. If LAC does that then they’ve got a real shot to make the NBA’s final four next season.

If Kawhi can start the season healthy and continue to show the excellent production from second half of the season, some team will be part of a decent trade at the Feb. trade deadline.

I doubt if the Clippers will trade Kawhi, esp. if they resign both Harden and Norm.

On the other hand, there is no reason why the Clippers cannot put up another 50-win regular season with Kawhi, Harden, Norm and Zu.

But, the last Denver series exposed this lineup’s flaws.