After a flurry of offseason moves, the L.A. Clippers are much improved, but not without major flaws. The Clippers got much older than last season by adding not one but three players who are over the age of 32.
Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, and Brook Lopez were all added this summer and could fill a role, but age will be a factor. Paul is one of just two 40-year-olds playing in the NBA. Meanwhile, Lopez, at 37 years old, is the last remaining player to have suited up for the New Jersey Nets, showing just his age.
To be clear, they can still both ball, but recent Clippers history combined with their older roster doesn’t bode well. On paper, their strong 10-man rotation offers surprising balance in both offense and defense.
How far will the new-look Clippers make it in the West? 👀 pic.twitter.com/VmaFQZcyMN
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 21, 2025
Given that L.A. foolishly mortgaged their future on the deal that landed them Paul George and are still paying for that mistake, they have done remarkably well for themselves. That doesn’t change the fact that, over the course of what could be a 100-game season, if they were to make a deep playoff run, they probably won’t be able to hold up well.
The new-look Clippers may have the same old problems
Kawhi Leonard’s health is a huge question mark, so much so that it feels almost too easy to single him out. He missed the first 33 games of last season and 11 of the final 49 games, mainly due to load management.
If, and that’s a big if, he can start the season healthy and doesn’t have a major injury, he could play between 60 and 66 games next season based on last year’s precedent.
A deeper roster should lead to a better regular season record, and hopefully for the Clippers, a better seed and an easier path through the playoffs. However, Leonard’s health looms large, and while the Clippers are far better prepared to weather an injury, his being healthy at the right time is key for this team to reach its full potential.
Even if Leonard is healthy and ready to go in the playoffs, the Clippers will have to worry about James Harden disappearing when it matters most. Adding more playmaking with Paul, more offensive weapons in John Collins and Beal, and defensive weapons in Lopez will help.
How much remains to be seen, with the Clippers hoping that an experienced roster will help them even if injuries are a looming concern.
Ultimately, the Clippers have gotten far deeper and even better than they were last season. On the other hand, they have gotten much older, and that is certain to lead to more injury problems, which could easily derail what may be a promising season.
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July 23, 2025 | 12:00 pm
