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The Los Angeles Clippers will head into the 2024-25 season without Kawhi Leonard's co-star Paul George after the nine-time All-Star left for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
Still, expectations are high for the Clippers behind Leonard, James Harden and a solid supporting cast.
Los Angeles looked strong heading into the playoffs after a 51-31 regular season earned them the No. 4 seed in the West, but the Clippers faced another disappointing first-round exit, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in six games.
As was the case the previous two seasons, Leonard's health was a factor as he played just two games in the series while dealing with right knee inflammation. The Clippers will hope to get a full season out of Leonard this year, as his presence on the court directly correlates with their success.
While losing George will make things difficult this year, the Clippers got an offseason win by re-signing Harden to a two-year, $70 million deal. Harden had a productive season playing as the third option to George and Leonard, and he'll look to have a resurgence now that he's the team's true second option.
Los Angeles will also hope to get the best out of offseason additions Nicolas Batum and Derrick Jones Jr.
It's hard to say whether the Clippers have what it takes to compete for a championship this season, but a playoff berth and a potentially deep run are within the range of outcomes.
2024-25 Clippers Schedule Details
Season Opener: vs. Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 10 p.m. ET
Championship Odds: +8000 (bet $100 to win $5,000), per FanDuel
Full Schedule: The full schedule is available on NBA.com.
Top Matchups
Dallas Mavericks
The team that eliminated you from the playoffs is always going to be circled on the calendar, and that's no different for the Clippers this season.
The Mavericks are the team to beat in the West after they won the conference finals a year ago, and Los Angeles will be looking for statements against Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and the newly acquired Klay Thompson.
The Clippers put up a solid effort against the Mavs considering they were without Leonard for most of the series, so a couple of wins against them would certainly boost their confidence heading into the postseason.
The postseason matchup between Los Angeles and Dallas has also become somewhat common, with the two teams meeting in the playoffs three times in the past five years. If the trend continues, the game against the Mavs could be a good opportunity to scout a potential playoff opponent.
Los Angeles Lakers
The matchup between the Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers is always fun as the two teams look to earn bragging rights.
This year's matchup will be especially noteworthy considering the Clippers, for the first time since moving to Los Angeles, will welcome the Lakers to their own arena.
The Clippers have shared Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) with the Lakers since 1999 but will play their first season in the Intuit Dome this year.
The matchup is also critical considering the two teams could be competing for one of the West's last playoff spots. The Lakers reached the postseason via the play-in tournament a year ago and could be in that position again this season after a lackluster showing in free agency.
After the loss of George, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Clippers also end the season as a No. 7, 8, 9 or 10 seed and have to face the Lakers in a game determining their playoff fate.
Season Forecast
There's no denying the Clippers didn't improve this offseason with the loss of George.
That said, giving Harden more responsibility and potentially returning to being a 20-plus points-per-game scorer as one of the team's go-to options on offense could allow the offense to settle into a more defined shape. The last time Harden was a team's first option was the 2019-20 season with the Houston Rockets when he averaged 34.3 points per game and led the team to the fourth seed in the West.
At 34 years old, Harden may not be a prolific of a scorer as he once was, but he could play a more expansive brand of offense that's tailored to his game.
At the end of the day, though, the Clippers will likely go as far as Leonard's health takes them. Leonard—who withdrew from Team USA to focus on his health—has appeared in more than 65 games once dating back to the 2018-19 regular season and has routinely been hampered by knee issues.
The Clippers' roster is far less intimidating than it has been since Leonard and George initially teamed up, but there's still potential for Los Angeles to put together a successful season.
Fans likely shouldn't expect a Finals run from the Clippers, but a playoff bid is plenty realistic.
Record Prediction: 45-37
