The Los Angeles Clippers are still recovering from the immense punishment they recently took from the NBA as a result of their salary cap circumvention scheme involving Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is, in all likelihood, headed to the Toronto Raptors via a trade, and his punishment is extremely light compared to some of the other penalties endured by key figures within the Clippers and the organization itself.

Recently, Clippers insider Joey Linn broke down why the team still finds itself in the immense shadow of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“This is an organization, that whether they want to admit it or not, have operated as if they are trying to get out of the Lakers’ shadow. And look no further than right after they acquired Kawhi Leonard and they ran this L.A. Our Way campaign across the city of Los Angeles basically trying to establish themselves as their own team in LA,” said Linn, per SiriusXM NBA Radio, via Valentina Martinez of the New York Post.

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Indeed, when Leonard first signed with Los Angeles seven years ago, the team was making a clear rebranding effort to market themselves as the premier team in the City of Angels. Instead, the team ended up choking a 3-1 lead in that year's playoffs and watching as the Lakers hoisted another trophy.

“Some of the things that go on, some of the tactics that are used to control the narrative on the Clippers’ side of things, at least in the way they’re carried out, aren’t exactly typical of what you would see from a professional sports organization. And that’s just where it does seem like an insecurity problem,” added Linn.

Spending the next several years without their first-round draft picks certainly won't help the Clippers shed that ugly reputation.