There is a lot of reason 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 remain healthy for LA, but nine-time All-Star Paul George joined the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, jumping ship and leaving the Clippers in the dust. If there is one thing we can always count on regarding this organization, it is for head coach Tyronn Lue to have a plan.
Since Lue took over as the Clippers coach in 2020, the organization has found a respectable amount of success. In addition to never having a losing record in Los Angeles, Lue also led the team to their first ever Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021. If Leonard had not hurt his ACL that year, perhaps the Clippers could’ve had a real shot at making it to the NBA Finals.
All of that is in the past now, as the Clippers have shifted their focus to the immediate future, one that no longer involves George. Leonard and James Harden highlight what looks to be a deeper, more athletic Clippers roster heading into the 2024-25 season, and Lue is ready to silence all of the critics after George’s departure.
“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. But that just challenges me even more,” Lue told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “OK, people are counting us out or people don’t think we’re going to be good. That right there just gives me an extra dose of [motivation]. I can’t wait to prove everybody 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, as Nicolas Batum rejoins the organization he spent three full seasons with before being traded to Philadelphia in the Harden trade last season.
The Clippers have completely rebuilt their secondary unit in the wake of George leaving, which has given this team more options and depth alongside the stars. At the same time, Lue recognizes that replacing George is not going to be easy, and that the team is going to need everyone to step up at different points throughout the year.
“My mind’s always going,” Lue told ESPN. “When you lose an important piece like Paul, you gotta do it by committee. He’s a very huge defensive player for us, handling the ball, scoring the basketball, making plays. So losing him is going to be tough.”
Can Tyronn Lue save Clippers?
Lue is a fantastic coach. There is a reason why he was selected by Steve Kerr to help lead Team USA to a gold medal this summer.
As things pertain to the Clippers, the 2024-25 season will demand a different approach from Lue and his staff in Los Angeles. Leonard and Harden being healthy and available is obviously key, but a lot of weight is going to fall on how Lue utilizes the team’s newest additions.
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