One more year the season of LA Clippers ends sooner than many predicted. No ring options, not even going from First round and, once again, without its two healthy stars, Kawhi Leonard y Paul George. Los Playoffs They ended up on the fast track for a Los Angeles team that ran out of options at the end of the second game of their tie.
The landscape of the eliminated: Nets | Timberwolves
After being eliminated by Phoenix Suns in five games What’s next for the LA Clippers? It is time to analyze your situation and future.
subscribe to NBA League Pass to see all the games: United States | Rest of the world
Injuries, again a drag for the Clippers
Evaluate the season and Playoffs of the Clippers without taking into account the absence of Kawhi Leonard y Paul George It would be telling a half story. Twenty days before the end of the Regular Season, George suffered a worrying injury to his right knee after colliding with Lu Dort. Later, after an exceptional start against the Suns, Kawhi sprained the same joint as his teammate.
Once again, the Angelenos’ championship options have been minimized by the availability of their stars, both occurring at the worst possible moment and leaving any option to surprise unattainable. The team called in 2020 to conquer everything has fallen by the wayside, with an investment of more than 630 million dollars since the movements by Leonard and George. A balance that is summarized in 142 games played together out of 345 between the Playoffs and the regular season, that is, They have only shared the field in 41.1% of their entire career in Los Angeles.
At this point, what will be the plan of the Clippers? Does it still make sense to bet on a duo so prone to injuries? When they have all been healthy they have made it clear that the Californians are the great dominator of the Western Conference, but the sample has been so tiny and reduced that the doubts are legitimate.
With the end of their campaign, the Clippers enter a swampy terrain, especially due to the economic issue.
LA Clippers heading into the 2023-2024 season: Free agents, contracts and salaries
- With contract: Paul George (45,6M), Kawhi Leonard (45,6M), Eric Gordon (20.9M), Norman Powell (18M), Marcus Morris (17,1M), Robert Covington (11,6M), Nicolas Batum (11,7M), Ivica Zubac (10,9M), Terance Mann (10,5M), Amir Coffey (3,6M), Bones Hyland (2,3M), Jason Preston (1,8M), Brandon Boston (1,8m)
- Free Agents: Russell Westbrook, Mason Plumlee, Moussa Diabate
- Draft Picks: Pick number 30 of the First Round, Pick number 48 of the Second Round
Lawrence Frank has two options before him. On the one hand, you can keep everything as it is with the hope that continuity and a little more luck in your stars will allow you to reach your final goal. On the other, to undertake a revolution from the offices as a definitive movement, as if it were the last trick.
In case of following the first path, the only thing that the Clippers should do would be to add a substitute interior that would sign for the minimum, which could translate into the Mason Plumlee revamp or a young bet at low cost.
The problem is that, as their salary list is configured, the Angelenos could not renew Russell Westbrook, since the average luxury exception available to them amounts to only 5 million, according to Spotrac. The former MVP would have to forgive a lot of money to continue in Los Angeles, especially after the correct end of the year that he has had.
Meanwhile, if they chose to turn the situation around they would have a good number of players to exchange. In addition, the Angelenos have a pick 30 without much value to themso they could put together a package around that choice and someone like Robert Covington, Marcus Morris o Terance Mann. The key for the Clippers is to protect their stars, create a good offensive system and pray that everything goes as it should.
However, the thing does not end here. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will enter 2024 in their final year of contract. Yes, at the end of that campaign they both have a player option, which is almost never exercised by the stars. The Clippers have it in their hands to extend the bond of both in this offseason for at least another three years (2+player option), or take a chance and see what happens in the season. No path is without risk and the margin of victory is shrinking.
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
2023-04-26 04:41:07
#Clippers #elimination #Playoffs #Contracts #free #agents #salaries #future
