There are many reasons to believe that The Los Angeles Clippers could be in trouble heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. Not only has Kawhi Leonard struggled to stay healthy for LA, but the nine-time All-Star Paul George joined the Philadelphia 76ers this offseasonjumping ship and leaving the Clippers in the dust. If there’s one thing we can always count on about this organization, it’s the head coach. Tyronn Lue have a plan.
Since Lue took over the Clippers in 2020, the organization has enjoyed respectable success. In addition to never having a losing record in Los Angeles, Lue also led the team to its first-ever Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021. Had Leonard not suffered an ACL injury that year, the Clippers might have had a real shot at reaching the NBA Finals.
That’s all in the past now, as the Clippers are now focused on the immediate future, a future that no longer involves George. Leonard and James Harden highlight what appears to be a A deeper, more athletic Clippers team as the 2024-25 season approaches, and Lue is ready to silence all the criticism after George left.
“When you lose a guy of Paul George’s stature, people instantly feel [think] “Oh, they can’t win or they’re not going to be competitive. But it just challenges me even more,” Lue told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “OK, people are writing us off or people don’t think we’re going to be good. It just gives me an extra dose of [motivation]. I can’t wait to prove everyone wrong.
Despite George leaving the Clippers for the 76ers in free agency, the Clippers were still able to make aggressive moves on the open market. Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn and Kevin Porter Jr. are all new faces in Los Angeles, while Nicolas Batum joins the organization he spent three full seasons with before being traded to Philadelphia as part of the Harden trade last season.
The Clippers completely rebuilt their secondary after George’s departure, giving this team more options and depth alongside the stars. At the same time, Lue acknowledges that replacing George won’t be easy and the team will need everyone to step up at different times throughout the year.
“I’m still thinking,” Lue told ESPN. “When you lose a big piece like Paul, you have to do it by committee. He’s a big defensive player for us, he handles the ball, he scores, he makes plays. So losing him is going to be tough.”
Can Tyronn Lue Save the Clippers?
Lue is a fantastic coach. There’s a reason he was handpicked by Steve Kerr to help Team USA win a gold medal this summer.
As for the Clippers, the 2024-25 season will require a different approach from Lue and his staff in Los Angeles. The health and availability of Leonard and Harden are obviously key, but a big part of the issue will be how Lue uses the team’s new additions.
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Jones proved last year with the Dallas Mavericks that he can be a reliable defender. There’s no doubt the Clippers will be looking Jones to try to replace George on the wing.
Dunn has always been known for his defensive abilities as a backup point guard. The Clippers used Batum as a small-ball center during his time with the team, and his three-point shot has always been a secret weapon.
It’s clear that after losing George to the Sixers, the Clippers focused their efforts on improving their defense. After finishing the 2023-24 season ranked 17th in defensive rating, it became clear that this was the area where the team needed to improve the most. Jones, Dunn, and Batum all present a path for the Clippers to become a top defensive team in this league again, especially with Leonard healthy.
While losing a player like George is never easy, as Lue alluded to, the Clippers are ready for the challenge ahead. While everyone views the Clippers as underdogs in the Western Conference, Lue remains confident that his team has what it takes to make another deep playoff run.
