Paul George's walk to the Philadelphia 76ers last summer was the first indicator that the future of the LA Clippers was going to be rough. They traded everything imaginable to land him, and it was a painful realization to know that contract negotiations between his agent and the Clippers' front office did not pan out.
Executive Lawrence Frank stood quietly alongside experts, analysts, and members of the media, criticizing the Clippers' failed era with George. Yet, what was unknown to everyone, including members of the front office, was that the best was on the horizon.
Frank ran a trial season with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard to see what they could brew together, with distinct talents added in the summer that helped at different points of the season, such as Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr.