K-K-K--Kawhi and the Clipps?

Picture "Benny and the Jets" in the background.

Many NBA analysts still believe that a team in Los Angeles has the best chance of landing this year's top star in the NBA free agency meat market, Kawhi Leonard.

Contra Lakers fans saying "But he's coming here!" and per my header, those actually intelligent fans believe that  "here" is the Clippers, not the Lake Show.

His most recent indications of that simple fact are just three months old and LONG AFTER a Woj tweet that's become like crack cocaine for many Lakers fans. While there's no recent direct quote, NBA inside business has him clear that he does NOT want to play for the Lakers in part because he didn't want to be LeBron James's second banana. And he's not alone.

Maybe an aging LeBron will be Kobe Bryant 2.0 in not wanting to let go?

In addition, with Anthony Davis going to the Los Angeles Lakers for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart, plus three first-round draft choices, we know that Kawhi sure as hell doesn't want to play third banana.

Plus, even with the King and AD on the other floor, the Clips may still be the better team in LA.

Why?

Several reasons.

First, I've already said that next year, LeBron James will be 35, will be, barring a bigger injury than last year in the top 10 in career minutes played and is already No. 1 in career playoff minutes. Zach Lowe recently did the math and says he is likely to be No. 3 in total combined minutes at the end of the year.

So, even if AD actually DOES sign a new contract? Guess what, Lakers clueless-rati? It's going to be with a diminishing LeBron who at best will be Dwyane Wade 2.0 and at worst will be Kobe 2.0.

And that's just on the physical side.

So, how likely are the Clipps to land Kawhi, and his Klaw so beloved (fantasized about) by Doris Burke? A fair chance, perhaps, if they follow Woj's idea and use some intellectual judo in their pitch.

Will the "hometown atmosphere," even if Woj says it shouldn't be anywhere near the No. 1 selling point, help? It might need to. Kevin Arnowitz rights a compelling pitch for the Raptors to try to get him to stay.

What about other teams?

Well, he's said he'll visit with the Sixers. But, how do they afford him unless they pass on at least one of the two of Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris?

And, that still leaves the "second banana" problem of being behind Joel Embiid. I don't think Ben Simmons is worried about pecking order, but Jo-Jo might be another story. And, would Kawhi really want to play with a Butler who grates on young talent and is perhaps considered two-faced by some other veterans?

The Celtics are still in a disarray of sorts. The Nets surely dream, and he is reportedly considering a visit, but I don't see that as a big option, though I would, intuitively, put them ahead of the Celtics.

So, do we wanna make some book?

Sure.

As of right now, I say 50 percent Clippers, 35 percent Raptors, 5 percent Nets, 5 percent Sixers, 5 percent all others.

Red Satan's hoops guys disagree. They say 2-1 odds on him staying with the Raptors with no other team besides the Clippers in the picture at all. And Kawhi is letting the Raptors have the final pitch.