Clippers fall short, future hinges on retooling

The summer of 2024 marked the end of an era for the Los Angeles Clippers. Five years after Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joined forces in L.A., George left in free agency, signing a four-year max deal with the Sixers – an offer the Clippers chose not to match.

While the Leonard-George duo made the Clippers a perennial contender, injuries often derailed their playoff runs. Over five seasons, the team won just three playoff series, all in 2020 and 2021.

George’s departure, though disappointing, gave the Clippers financial flexibility after years of operating deep in the luxury tax.

With George’s contract off the books, L.A. added depth by signing Derrick Jones, Nicolas Batum, and Kris Dunn.

Even with Leonard limited to 37 games, the team thrived thanks to career years from Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell, plus an All-NBA season from James Harden. They finished with 50 wins – more than in any George-era season except one.

Still, a tough first-round matchup with Denver ended their postseason early. It’s fair to wonder how far they might’ve gone with different seeding. The good news: this was a strong, well-rounded team.

The bad news: even at full strength, it wasn’t enough. More work awaits this offseason.