Are the Clippers one piece away from being title contenders?

The Los Angeles Clippers have consistently fallen short during the Steve Ballmer era. Injuries to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard both derailed Ty Lue's chances of adding another championship ring to his collection. 

However, the Clippers finally appear to be back on track. James Harden spent the 2024-25 season proving that he's still among the elite guards in the NBA. Leonard reminded the world that when he's healthy, very few can make the impact he does. The supporting cast, led by Norman Powell, grew in prominence as the season wore on.

Nevertheless, the Clippers fell short in the postseason, losing to the Denver Nuggets in a tightly-contested, seven-game opening series. According to NBA insider Matt Moore, the Clippers are expected to search for a veteran addition this summer.

“The Clippers are hunting for a name. Some superstars (older ones), some veteran guys with championship experience,” Moore wrote in his Hardwood Paroxysm newsletter. “They really think they can make another run at it, which is very much looking at the gift horse of this season in the mouth.”

If the Clippers can locate (and acquire) another aging star, they could find themselves in the perfect position to contend in the Western Conference. Lue is one of the best coaches in the league and Leonard and Harden clearly have miles left on the clock. All that's missing is a third star to absorb some of the pressure that comes with facing postseason defenses. 

Of course, the Clippers must ensure they choose the right star. They can't afford to add another injury risk to the rotation. That's a lesson they should have learned during George's tenure with the franchise.

Still, if another veteran makes his way to the Intuit Dome this summer, the Western Conference will have another contender to worry about. More importantly, Ballmer will have a team that could potentially bring deep playoff basketball to a multi-billion-dollar arena that is waiting for its first taste of the big time.