While the Suns, Grizzlies, Warriors and Lone Rangers were still working on a Western Conference final spot, the Los Angeles Clippers, who missed the playoffs, prepared for the first signing in the offseason.
According to Woj, the Clippers have reached a contract extension agreement with forward Covington, and the two sides will sign a two-year, $24 million contract.
Due to the union's collective agreement, 2 years is the longest contract period the Clippers can offer to Covington. This also means that in the next two seasons, Covington will be the right-hand man of the two giants of Small Card and George.
This past season, Covington played in 23 games for the team after being traded to the Clippers, averaging 22.1 minutes per game, contributing 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks, and shooting 45% from 3-point range. Compared to the downturn in the Blazers, Covington was perfectly reborn in Los Angeles, once again playing the league's top 3D performance, and thus capturing the hearts of the coaching staff and management.
Because after signing Covington, the Clippers' luxury tax was raised from $17.8 million to $54.9 million in an instant, and the team paid an extra $37.1 million in luxury taxes to keep him.
But obviously, for the rich Ballmer, this little money is nothing, not to mention, after leaving Covington, next season, The Card Jr. and George return healthy, and the Clippers will have the top, or even one, of the league's top-not-of-the-line defensive lineup.
Throughout the 2021-22 season, Covington delivered 103 steals and 91 blocks, becoming the only player in the league to have at least 90 steals and 90 blocks. This statistic is enough to prove that although Covington's status has declined with age and injury, he still maintains top defensive aggressiveness and is a reliable forward defensive gatekeeper.
After the contract extension is completed, the Clippers' main rotation players with contracts next season include: Ka Jr., George, Covington, Morris Jr., Mann, Batum (player option), Powell, Reggie Jackson, Kennard and Zubac!
Among them, Batum has not yet confirmed whether to execute the player option to stay in the team, but judging from his experience with the Clippers in the past two seasons, staying will obviously be a better choice for him, because in the new season, as long as the lineup remains healthy, he will have a good chance to compete for the title.
It is not difficult to see from this lineup that in the new season, the Clippers' forward lineup will become stronger than ever. The two giants of Little Card and George, supplemented by Covington's iron gate, allow them to put more energy into the attack. At the same time, the young man Mann is also growing year by year and will continue to play the role of a giant helper. Coupled with Batum, who is experienced and has recovered from last season's state, as well as Morris Jr., and Powell, who can play the No. 3 position in the small lineup, it can be said that such a lineup, attacking and defending, has built a copper wall on the front line for the Clippers.
As long as the Clippers' main force can remain healthy, it is foreseeable that the competitive landscape in the West will change again in the new season, at least for now, the Clippers will become a very competitive team in the West next season, competing with the Suns, Warriors and Grizzlies.