NBA News Roundup, Tuesday, April 23rd: LA Clippers linked to Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard, Bucks advance in playoffs and more

With the 2019 draft quickly approaching and the postseason already in full swing, there is no shortage of stories from around the NBA. A number of soon to be free agents are also being linked with numerous teams, so here are all the news and rumors you need to know for March 23.

Clippers backed to be major movers in free agency

The Los Angeles Clippers are in a strong position heading into the 19/20 season

The LA Clippers are facing a first-round series defeat to the Golden State Warriors, although the team has been among the most impressive of the season. Despite a modest roster, the Clippers advanced to the playoffs ahead of the Lakers, and the team has the cap space to add two max contracts next season.

Due to this, the Clippers have been linked to a host of stars, and Rob Mahoney of Sports Illustrated is reporting that the LA franchise remains in the hunt for a number of NBA's most in-demand free agents:

What if, when the offense begins to sputter, this same Clipper team had Kawhi Leonard to drive through the lane like a battering ram? Considering how small L.A. has been forced to play in this series, how different might their matchups look if Doc Rivers had Jimmy Butler to work with? Or, for a more immediate example: What might the Clippers become if the seven-foot scoring singularity (Durant) lifting the Warriors were to switch jerseys?

All three stars will be free agents in a matter of months, and the Clippers are a perfectly logical destination. Some might prefer a blank slate roster to shape in their own image, but L.A. has built a fascinating alternative: a playoff-proven team, culture included, that is unusually non-threatening.

The All-Star trio of Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant will all hit free agency this summer. All three are expected to exit their current teams, and Leonard in particular is believed to want to return to his native Los Angeles.

Gonzaga's Killian Tillie to enter the 2019 NBA draft

Gonzaga's Killian Tillie has declared for the 2019 NBA draft

Following a successful junior season with Gonzaga, Killian Tillie has declared for the upcoming NBA draft. Tillie's announcement makes him the fourth Gonzaga man to declare for the draft in recent weeks, following in the footsteps of Rui Hachimura, Brandon Clarke and Zach Norvell Jr.

Following his announcement, the 21-year-old took to Instagram to thank his coaching team and friends:

Playing in the NBA has been a long-term goal of mine and I know I have a unique opportunity to fulfill this dream. I plan to take the pre-draft process extremely seriously. I want to thank Coach Few and the coaching staff for their backing on this decision, along with the support and love from my family.

During an injury-hit campaign, Tillie averaged 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game.

Giannis Antetokounmpo inspires Bucks to series win

The Milwaukee Bucks completed the sweep of the Detroit Pistons

For the first time since 2001, the Milwaukee Bucks will compete in the second round of the postseason. The Bucks last night completed a first-round sweep of Detroit, as a playoff career-high 41 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo was enough to secure a routine 127-104 win.

Last night's game four victory followed on from three other comfortable wins, and the Bucks' ability to triumph over the Pistons ended a streak of eight straight first-round playoff series defeats.

The Bucks will now face-off against the fourth-seeded Boston Celtics, with the winner advancing to the Eastern Finals. Just like the Bucks, Boston enters the series having completed their own first-round sweep, and the series is a rematch of last year’s first-round set that saw the Celtics win in seven games. However, the Bucks will be confident that the Greek Freak can carry them past Boston and Kyrie Irving this time out.