As post-Kawhi Leonard era begins, Clippers owe

Starting over has to start someplace, and so the Clippers bought on with it Wednesday.

While Kawhi Leonard bought an NBA Finals hero’s welcome back up north in Toronto, the Clippers did what they might to entice followers back to Intuit Dome.

Not with superstars or championship aspirations. But with the promise of free parking, a jersey trade-in and a basketball staff that is, at least, better than the Sacramento Kings, who they beat 121-96 in both groups’ season opener. Coach Tyronn Lue devoted the win to suspended staff proprietor Steve Ballmer: “Just want to say thank you for everything. We’re still fighting for him.”

Yeah, but the Clippers ought to focus on combating for their followers, not the billionaire whose obvious wage cap circumvention has the group in scorching water.

Wednesday’s fan appreciation stuff was a swell gesture, as a start. But it wasn’t almost far-reaching enough.

Not for embattled Clippers supporters who have caught with the staff through thick and skinny, illness and health, in spite of Donald Sterling, the previous low-cost, racist proprietor and now Ballmer, the rich, over-invested one whose wage cap circumvention value his staff its first-round picks in the 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033 NBA drafts.

To followers, that was the most consequential half of the historic punishment dealt by the NBA, which commissioned a year-long investigation that decided the Clippers dedicated audacious ranges of wage cap circumvention.

The league also fined the staff $30 million, suspended staff proprietor Ballmer and president of business operations Gillian Zucker for a yr and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank for six months.

And Leonard? He bought a $700,000 slap on the wrist and bought traded back to Toronto, where he signed a two-year, $115 million contract extension and on Wednesday, had Raptors coach Darko Rajaković saying he was “super excited for the chance to bring a Hall of Famer back home.”

“That’s one of the most insulting parts of it all, the way [Leonard] was able to walk away scot-free and the fans are left sort of holding the bag,” said Torrance’s Justin Ratterree, while he tried to dodge raindrops as he waited in line, 4 hours before tipoff, to commerce in his No. 2 Leonard jersey.

Young Clippers followers watch the staff play the the Sacramento Kings Wednesday at the Intuit Dome.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

“It’s rough right now. Defending the team this past couple months has been really rough … and I’ve kind of just given up defending. How can you defend it?”

Even Ballmer stopped doing that, releasing a assertion on Sept. 13 that read, in half: “This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets.

“I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.

“We are,” he added, “committing to put this chapter behind us.”

Yes, allow them to attempt to scrub the reminiscence of Leonard, the intensely expert and non-public participant who demanded so a lot of the Clippers when he signed with them as a free agent in 2019. Who made no efforts to popularize the staff, missed nearly as a lot time as he labored, and who failed to lead the Clippers to their first championship or wherever close to it in his seven seasons.

After his commerce to Toronto went through on Sept. 23, the Clippers resisted posting the “Thank You, Kawhi” graphic that professional sports activities groups do when they half methods with a participant.

Let them also overlook to play a tribute video when Leonard’s Raptors go to Intuit Dome for the only time this season on Nov. 2.

And let the Clippers develop the jersey swap past the first 4,000 paying clients at Game 1; there was no official determine obtainable Wednesday evening for precisely how many jerseys had been traded and how many of them belonged to he-who-must-not-be-named.

The Clippers ought to keep it going, offer the option all season. Set it up at the Intuit Dome’s Lost and Found — invite followers to exchange the No. 2 jersey of the participant whom they misplaced all respect for a man they’ve discovered themselves newly enamored with, seemingly rookie Keaton Wagler if Wednesday’s exchange was any indication.

Clippers followers also deserve more than having their parking picked up until an hour before gametime, on one wet workday, on late discover.

They ought to have their parking at video games lined all season — or at least considerably diminished from the standard $70 price that’s already too steep. (The Dodgers didn’t start charging $65 until the National League Division Series!)

They ought to do more if they need to continue to draw a crowd to watch a staff whose best participant is now Darius Garland, whose future is compromised, whose current best-cast state of affairs — the play-in! — only Clippers followers might love.

Clippers ahead Rui Hachimura drives past Kings guard De’andre Hunter and heart Domantas Sabonis Wednesday at the Intuit Dome.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Associated Press)

Several followers Wednesday also said they might respect improved transparency, including in phrases of participant injury and availability news.

It’s the least the staff can do for these affected person people, who can have the kind of staff that they often fall arduous for, really — a group of avid gamers, devoid of divas, punching above their weight.

“All this stuff that’s going on,” Lue said, “you can’t take that out on our players … that’s not their fault, you know?”

It’s not followers’ fault, either. Let’s see the Clippers go above and past for them.