Four strong players were introduced during the offseason! Can the old Clippers clear the Katha fog and break through the first round?

Team: Clippers

2024-25 season record: 50 wins and 32 losses (5th in the West)

Main contract renewal: Harden (81.5 million in 2 years), Batum (11.5 million in 2 years), Jordan Miller (two-way)

Main signings: John Collins (Trade), Brooke Lopez (18 million in 2 years), Bill (11 million in 2 years), Paul (3.6 million in 1 years)

Main loss: Norman Powell (Heat), Coffey (Bucks), Eubanks (Kings), Ben Simmons (Expiration), Mills (Expiration)

Lineup depth:

defenders: Harden, Bill, Bogdan, Dunn, Paul, Cam Christie, Jordan Miller (two-way), Kobe Sanders (two-way)

Front line: Leonard, Derek Jones Jr., Batum, Kobe Brown, Flowers (two-way)

Inside line: Zubac, John Collins, Dallas, Needhauser

Predicted starters: Harden, Bill, Leonard, Collins, Zubac

Last season review:

Clippers ushered in their first season in the new arena in the 2024-25 season, and it was also the first season of the Kajiao combination separated. Without being optimistic before the start of the game, the Clippers played a steady season.

Leonard still played in the regular season, and after his comeback, he encountered a fire in Los Angeles. In the end, he only played 37 games throughout the season. Harden performed well in his solo team, averaging 22.8+5.8+8.7 per game, and entered the All-Star again after 5 years (25 years of third teams, last time was 20 years of first team). Powell seized the opportunity to become an excellent scorer, averaging 21.8 points per game with a three-point shooting percentage of up to 41.8%. Zubac started 80 games, and averaged 16.8+12.6 for the first time in his career, and was selected for the second defense.

As Leonard gradually got into the game after his comeback, Dunn, who was exchanged for Westbrook in the offseason, Bogdan and Bensey introduced in the middle of the season, Jones Jr., Batum and Coffey, the team members, worked together to improve. In the last 21 games, they won 18 wins and 3 losses, and ended with 8 consecutive victories in April.

But unfortunately, the Clippers encountered the Nuggets, who were equally strong in the playoffs, and unfortunately lost after seven games. Compared to earlier seasons, the Clippers exchanged their regular season absence for a healthy Leonard in the playoffs, but failed to achieve a breakthrough in the first round. In the past three seasons, no matter how the team changes inside and outside, the Clippers have always been able to enter the playoffs steadily, but in the past three years, they can only win one more game in the first round each year, which is almost equivalent to standing still.

Offseason changes:

The Clippers are still very active in signings during the offseason because they understand that the team's dual-core Harden and Xiao Ka are gradually getting older. However, after being separated from George, the Clippers' payroll has been relatively refreshing in recent years and is very flexible in operation.

The Clippers first renewed their contracts without any suspense to return to the All-Star + Best Team and efficient Wanjin Oil forward veteran Batum, and then introduced many teams to want Collins and Daluo. The former's athletic ability and the latter's three-pointers + frame protection are both very competitive attributes. Both of them were the team's main rotation players in the past, and no matter from any perspective, they were much more reliable than Kofi, Eubanks, Bensey, Kay Jones, Bamba, etc. In addition to strengthening the frontcourt, the Clippers have also made some additions on the back. The robbery signing Bill made up for Powell's loss of leaving the team. Although the former has shrunk in the Suns' data, it still maintains good efficiency. Welcome back the old captain Paul can undoubtedly relieve a lot of pressure for Harden, and at the same time, the risk of Paul himself being injured has also been reduced a lot. Within the best of his ability, Paul remains one of the most reliable point guards in the league and can contribute to the team. The Clippers' entry and exit were orderly during the offseason, and their combat power increased instead of decreasing, which means that the age of the main rotation has increased a little.

But after the free market booming, a big event casts the Clippers' new season again. Leonard is caught in the allegation that the Yin-Yang contract avoids the salary cap, and the NBA launched an investigation into the Clippers. Although there will be no findings in the short term, it is like a time bomb. If the league finally decides to make a heavy penalty, even if it doesn't consider the next few years, the Clippers will definitely find it difficult to make a breakthrough this season. Considering that there are too many veterans in the Clippers lineup, you may be unable to wait for this season.

In addition, Bogdan was injured again when he competed in the European Championship with the Serbian men's basketball team during the offseason, which was very difficult for a player who had just recovered from injury last season and had experienced team changes. Bogdan's condition and how the Clippers use him next season will have an important impact.

New Season Outlook:

Before the dust of the Leonard incident was settled, no one could say what the Clippers will be like in the new season. But from another perspective, although the punishment for the Clippers is pending, they are already used to this state. Even if Leonard is really unable to play due to heavy penalties, the Clippers will not fall directly to the bottom. After all, Leonard only played 37 regular season games last season.

The Clippers' lineup in the new season is more reasonable than before. It not only finds substitutes for Zubac and Harden to reduce the burden, but also maintains the strength of the wing players. There will not be too many players who are reluctant to play unfamiliar positions, and there will not be too many problems in rotation. But the Clippers' main rotation age is still relatively old, and it will be a great test in such a fierce competition and long front line. Fortunately, the Clippers have always been slow-paced teams. If they can use rich experience to drag young opponents into their own pace, their basic balance will not be too low. But if you want to make a breakthrough in the playoffs, the Clippers must find ways to make rotations more refined to help veterans stay healthy.

In the rotation of the Clippers, four new players, Collins, Bill, Daluo and Paul, all occupy an important position, and the running-in between new and old members will surely affect the Clippers for a long time. Ideally, the Clippers might play a similar course to last season and eventually continue to steadily win 50. If Leonard can play normally next season, the Clippers will have a chance to reach the top four in the Western Conference, but if the team is severely punished by Leonard or the veterans have problems with their legs and feet, the Clippers are likely to fall into the playoffs in the highly competitive West.