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After adding veterans like Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, John Collins, and Chris Paul, the Clippers appear poised for a championship push right now.
But behind the scenes, the franchise is reportedly laying the groundwork for a massive swing in 2027, one that could bring two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to L.A.
“But what they’ve really done here is clear the books for 2027,” Bill Simmons said on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “It’s because Giannis is a free agent in the summer of 2027…I think this is a real thing, I think the Bucks are terrified of it.”
Only Ivica Zubac is under contract for the 2027–28 season, leaving the Clippers with near-max cap flexibility. Simmons believes that was no accident.
“But I think if you’re the Clippers, and short term, you can compete with a puncher’s chance for a title, but long term, you have $20 million on the books for 2027,” he said. “This is a team that spends every possible asset, dollar, to impress the people that play for it, and I think that’s their end game is that summer of 2027, short-term ‘let’s try to win’, long-term Giannis.”
Zach Lowe echoed the sentiment, adding, “Everybody knows the timetable of Giannis’ contract, everybody sees how desperate the Bucks are.”
Despite the chatter, Milwaukee isn’t ready to move on from their franchise cornerstone. The Bucks have reloaded around Antetokounmpo, adding Myles Turner, Cole Anthony, and Gary Harris, while re-signing Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr.
“By all accounts, he’s fine in Milwaukee, and the team is going to be pretty good,” Simmons said. “They had a really good offseason when you consider that the second-best player on the team was going to miss the entire season…They’ve added together a team that, in a weak conference, with the best player in the conference, at least is now in the game.”
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