Previous Threads:
Spoiler:
Time of death: May 03, 2025
Record at elimination: 50-32 [3-4 in playoffs]
Head coach: Ty Lue
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/la-clippers/yearly
Contract summary:
Kawhi – 2yr/100M remain
Harden – 36M PO
Powell – extension eligible, or 20M expiring
Bogdan Bogdanovic – 2yr/32M (final year 16M TO)
Zubac – 3yr/60M remain
Derrick Jones Jr – 2yr/20M remain
Kris Dunn – 2yr/11M remain (final year has non-guaranteed conditions)
Drew Eubanks – 4.7M non-guaranteed 1yr deal next season
Nic Batum – 5M PO
Patty Mills – UFA
Ben Simmons - UFA
Rookie Scale/minimums (varies on 2-4 years remaining):
Amir Coffey – UFA
Kobe Brown – 2yr remain
Cam Christie – 3yr remain
Jordan Miller – 3yr remain
TW
Patrick Baldwin
Trentyn Flowers
Seth Lundy
Dead-cap – 3.7M off the books this season, NONE retained next.
Capspace: 1st apron (hard-capped), will have limited space to operate on the few open roster spots left.
PICKS for 2025 draft:
OKC 1st
MIN 2nd
A SMALL SEASON REVIEW:
The Clippers entered the season with a healthy list of questions on how it would play after Paul George signed with Philadelphia in free agency. There were some hesitations, I think, as PG13 was one of the cornerstone players of the franchise from some fans. However emphatically answered by Norm Powell, it was "addition by subtraction." in a bold statement. PG13 leaving seems to have been positive for the team's chemistry, but ultimately results in another 1st round exit.
This team admirably hung its hat on solid defense and shotmaking. Harden, Powell, and Kawhi steadied the play on the wing while Zubac/Dunn rounded out a difficult unit to beat straight up. Though Kawhi only played 37 games in the RS, he did not exit this playoffs injured, it is a positive sign at least - they made it through a very competitive 7-game-series without having a massive injury issue for the offseason.
Throughout the year we can pick moments where LAC played very well, such as 4 separate win streaks of 3+ during the RS, and 18-of-21 wins to close the year. Harden, Powell, Zubac, DJJ, and Kris Dunn held down the fort in games Kawhi missed. Bogdanovic was acquired mid-season in a trade with ATL (Terrance Mann) and helped space the floor too. Zubac really played great this year!
They have a couple of picks to utilise, the #30 via OKC, and a late MN 2nd, so some small moves can be made. In the larger picture, how high this roster can go will depend on if Kawhi and Harden can conjure another healthy year and raise the level of the team even greater because a solid foundation is still here - maybe still one piece away from reaching title contender status. Powell is up for an extension. 35-year old Harden has a big PO he can pick up. Kawhi will have 2 years left, as do a few other core players.
How did you think the Clippers fared this season and what is your outlook for their future after this tough loss ?
