(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Last season, the Los Angeles Clippers sent shockwaves throughout the NBA once again, adding former NBA MVP James Harden into the mix with fellow stars Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
The Clippers had arguably the most intimidating roster in the league, which many believed would thrust them back into the title-contending discussion, but that didn’t turn out to be the case.
Even though they had a stretch when they looked like the best team in the league with all four of their stars on the same page, the success didn’t last as injuries piled up, and the Clippers inevitably flamed out in the 2024 NBA Playoffs while being unable to keep up with the Dallas Mavericks’ dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Heading into the offseason, the Clippers’ brass had some difficult decisions to make, especially after committing to the oft-injured Leonard for a few more years.
Ultimately, they traded Westbrook to the Utah Jazz before he joined the Denver Nuggets, and let George sign with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent, which completely changed the dynamic of the star-studded team.
George’s departure made a lot of people look differently at the Clippers, as many believe they are no longer a title contender, but L.A. head coach Tyronn Lue begs to differ.
“When you lose a guy of Paul George’s stature, instantly people [think] ‘Oh, they can’t win or they’re not going to be competitive,’” Lue told ESPN last week.
Of course, even if Lue believes the Clippers aren’t the team they once were, he’s still going to make a comment like that because it would be unwise to express the opposite view.
That said, there’s no telling what kind of team the Clippers will be this season with Leonard and Harden leading the way, especially with several teams in the Western Conference only getting better.
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