Why I'm Not Sold on the Clippers This Season, Even With Their Big Offseason Additions
The Los Angeles Clippers made some significant moves this offseason, bringing in big names like Brook Lopez, Chris Paul, and Bradley Beal, and trading for John Collins. On paper, these signings seem to elevate the team, making them look even more loaded for a deep playoff run. But despite the talent infusion, I’m skeptical about the fit of the roster and not as confident that they’ll make a title run. Here’s why:
While the Clippers have bolstered their roster, the most glaring concern for this team is the age of its core players. Chris Paul (40) and Brook Lopez (37) bring wisdom and experience, but they also come with a lack of mobility and aging bodies that are more prone to injury. The Clippers' stars—Kawhi Leonard (34) and James Harden (who will be 36 by the start of the season)—aren’t getting any younger either. As one can probably deduct, age can take a toll, especially over an 82-game season, and the Clippers' older players might wear down quicker as the season progresses.
The biggest elephant in the room is the Clippers' injury history. Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal have been plagued by injuries for years, and even the addition of Chris Paul—who’s had his own injury woes in recent seasons—doesn’t do much to alleviate this concern. The combination of age and injuries creates serious questions about whether the Clippers’ championship hopes will be derailed once again. It’s fair to wonder how long a trio of Leonard, Beal, and Paul will stay healthy throughout the season.
Bradley Beal has been the highlight of the Clippers’ offseason, but I’m not sure it’s the perfect fit for the team. The issue isn’t Beal’s talent—he’s a proven scorer—but he’s also a ball-dominant player. Pairing him with the likes of Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and even Ivica Zubac, who all prefer the ball in their hands, creates a potential logjam. Beal has struggled to coexist with other ball-dominant scorers in the past, and it remains to be seen if he can find his role on a team full of players who need the ball to maximize their potential. While Harden may not be the scorer he once was, he still requires the ball to be effective. Beal has yet to prove he can thrive without being the primary option.
One of the most glaring basketball issues the Clippers still face is a lack of sufficient floor spacing. Despite adding high-caliber players like Beal and Collins, who bring offensive firepower, the team’s spacing problems persist. Between Harden, Beal, Leonard, Collins, and Paul, none of them are elite three-point shooters. They can all make the three, but they don’t shoot it at a rate or efficiency that would make them sharpshooters. Their go-to shots aren’t from deep (except maybe Harden), and when you have multiple players who primarily score in the midrange, attack the basket, or aren’t as effective off the ball, it becomes difficult to create the kind of spacing that opens lanes for easy shots or drives. I’m not confident Bogdan Bogdanovic, Harden on a good day, and Brook Lopez are enough to space the floor. While Beal provides scoring, he’s no longer known as a catch-and-shoot player. The Clippers need more players whose primary role is to stretch the floor, and they currently lack that.
What it ultimately comes down to is health and role determination. If the Clippers manage to stay healthy and can sort out who will take a backseat and sacrifice for the team’s greater good, they could very well be a top 3 team in the West, and possibly the league. But asking them to stay healthy for an entire season is a tall order, given their track record. We’ll just have to see. Despite all my concerns, I do hope to see Chris Paul and James Harden win their first ring.
