Clippers Launch Season with Veteran Depth and Healthy Leonard

The Los Angeles Clippers begin their 2023-24 NBA season on October 25, 2023, against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, armed with a healthy Kawhi Leonard and a roster bolstered by veteran talent. In an offseason focused on winning now, the Clippers acquired former All-Stars James Harden and Bradley Beal, along with established players Chris Paul and Brook Lopez. These additions aim to strengthen their pursuit of advancing past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Western Conference finals in 2021.

As the Clippers prepare for the season, they face two significant challenges: age and team chemistry. With an average team age of 33.2 years, they are poised to have the oldest roster in the league. This contrasts sharply with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won the championship last season with an average age of just 24.7 years. Coach Tyronn Lue acknowledges the need for time to establish the right rotations and team dynamics. He indicated that it will take around 15 to 20 games to fully understand how to integrate the new players effectively.

Health remains another critical issue, particularly concerning Leonard, a six-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP. Although he starts his 14th season healthy, Leonard has not played in more than 70 games during a regular season since the 2016-17 season. Last year, he participated in only 37 games due to ongoing knee issues but managed to play all seven games in the playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, averaging 25.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.

Off the court, the Clippers are also under scrutiny. An independent law firm is investigating the team to ascertain whether they violated NBA rules regarding financial dealings involving Leonard and team owner Steve Ballmer. Both Ballmer and Leonard have denied any wrongdoing.

On the court, Harden will be a key figure in driving the offense alongside Leonard. Last season, he averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. He was one of only four players to achieve over 22 points and eight rebounds per game while shooting at least 35 percent from three-point range. His partnership with Leonard contributed to the Clippers finishing fifth in the Western Conference last season, highlighted by winning 18 of their last 21 games.

This season, the revamped lineup will also feature Bradley Beal, who returns to the starting position after two injury-plagued seasons with the Phoenix Suns. Lue expressed confidence in Beal’s ability to regain his form, emphasizing his versatility as a scorer and facilitator. “Players of this caliber are very rare, and they’re hard to come by,” Lue stated during the summer signing of Beal after the Suns bought out his contract.

The Clippers have also strengthened their frontcourt with the additions of John Collins via trade and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser through the draft, complementing Ivica Zubac, who had an impressive season with averages of 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds while shooting 62.8 percent from the field.

Several players have departed, including guards Norman Powell, Amir Coffey, Ben Simmons, and Patty Mills, as well as center Drew Eubanks. Despite these changes, the Clippers are expected to maintain depth with versatile forwards Derrick Jones Jr. and Nicolas Batum, along with guards Kris Dunn and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Lue highlighted the benefits of having multiple experienced players coming off the bench who have been starters in their careers.

“It feels good to have a lot of different options, combinations,” Lue remarked. “Every night could be different, every night is going to be different. But we have time. We just got to keep getting better.”

As the Clippers embark on this new season, the blend of veteran experience and the hope for Leonard’s health will be crucial in their quest for playoff success.