Wednesday’s play-in game between the Clippers and Warriors could prove more consequential than the playoff games that will follow it.
While the winner will advance to play the Suns and need two wins to secure the No. 8 seed and play the Thunder, the loser will enter an offseason full of questions over the future of the organization.
The 9th-seeded Clippers finished 42–40 despite a 6–21 start and sustained success after trading James Harden to the Cavaliers for Darius Garland. Kawhi Leonard played in at least 65 games for just the second time in 10 years, but his future with the organization is uncertain after this season.
The Clippers are still under investigation for Leonard’s alleged no-show job with failed environmental startup Aspiration to circumvent the league’s salary cap. Because the NBA investigation is ongoing, there is no timeline for when a potential punishment could be handed down. But if found guilty, the NBA could fine the Clippers, strip the organization of multiple draft picks, and/or void Leonard’s contract, which has one year left on it for $50.3 million after this season. The two-time NBA Finals MVP’s contract would likely be voided before the new league year starts in July.
Any Clippers punishment beyond a fine would drastically change the organization’s outlook in terms of roster-building, which is why Wednesday’s game is so significant: It could be the last time the team is competitive for a while.
Then there’s the 10th-seeded Warriors, who have had an injury-plagued season that has included Jimmy Butler tearing his ACL in January and Stephen Curry missing 27 games due to a knee injury.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who has won four titles with the organization, is set to be a free agent when his contract expires at the end of June. Kerr hasn’t shown any concern about his lame duck status, but his future has been speculated on throughout the season.
In September, the 60-year-old coach said his camp would likely not have any contract talks during the season and added his relationships with general manager Mike Dunleavy and owner Joe Lacob have him optimistic the situation will resolve itself.
“I’ve said this before, I think, but however this ends, it’s gonna be done in a really quality way,” Kerr said then. “It’s gonna happen the right way. If it’s meant to be for me to keep going, then I’m going to keep going. And if it’s meant to be for the team to move on to somebody else, there will be nothing but gratitude and appreciation.”
In January, The Ringer reported that multiple Warriors assistants were operating as if he wouldn’t be back next season. But The Athletic recently reported that “there’s been no indication of a split” between Kerr and the organization.
Wednesday’s winner will go on for a chance to take on the reigning NBA champions in the first round. The loser will begin an offseason of uncertainty.
