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Questions for Clippers heading into 2023-24 season

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Three questions for Los Angeles Clippers heading into 2023-24 season

By Ethan Scott | Last updated 10/6/23

Last season, injuries to both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George once again derailed the Los Angeles Clippers' ambitions. They fell 4-1 to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

This might be the last opportunity for the roster's core to prove it can compete for an NBA championship before owner Steve Ballmer contemplates significant changes. As we approach the new season, here are three lingering questions:

Can the Clippers get a James Harden deal done? Harden's discontent with the Philadelphia 76ers is evident, particularly after a summer-long tirade against President Daryl Morey. The Clippers are reportedly Harden's preferred destination and look like the team most likely to get a deal done.

"The Clippers, league sources say, are going to great lengths to make it happen." The Athletic's Sam Amick said. "League sources say the Clippers have been talking to several teams about ways to move pick swaps for additional draft capital with the intention of bolstering their offer and getting a deal done."

Per NBA insider Shams Charania, Philadelphia wants guard/forward Terrance Mann and multiple first-round picks in any deal that sends Harden to the City of Angeles.

“Sources tell me the Clippers have been offering one unprotected first-round pick and a pick swap for (James) Harden … The Sixers have been valuing Terance Mann as well as multiple first-round draft picks.”

NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports on the latest with Harden. pic.twitter.com/NACU48guZJ
— The Rally (@TheRally) October 5, 2023

Last season, Harden averaged 21 points, a league-leading 10.7 assists and 6.1 rebounds. He shot 44.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three, his highest mark since 2011-12. The prospect of a team featuring Harden alongside Leonard and Geroge is daunting and should significantly improve the roster. But will the Clippers ever get a deal done? And if so, at what cost?

How will they manage the NBA's new load-management rule? The NBA's new policy prohibits teams from resting multiple star players (anyone who has been an All-Star or All-NBA selection in the past three seasons) in the same game. That means the Clippers won't be allowed to rest Leonard and George simultaneously, something they have consistently done throughout their tenure in Los Angeles.

When asked about the new rule on media day, Leonard said, "If I'm able to play, I'll play basketball, I work out every day in the summertime to play the game, not to sit and watch people play. No league policy is helping me to play more games." Adding, "If I'm able to play, I'll play basketball."

Only time will tell if that rings any truth.

Will Kawhi Leonard and Paul George ever be healthy? Ultimately, this team's fortunes hinge on their stars' health. If both are healthy heading into the playoffs and stay healthy, Los Angeles has an excellent opportunity to make some noise in a highly competitive Western Conference.

The only problem is that that's never been the case. Since joining the Clippers, neither Leonard nor George has ever played 60 games in a season. When they play together, the Clippers boast an impressive 83-35 (70.3%) record. The duo is one of the best across the NBA.

The last time the two were healthy together in the playoffs was in 2020, during the Disney World bubble, yet even that ended in utter disaster, blowing a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets. Something just always seems to go wrong with this franchise. History shows that when it looks bright, it usually comes crashing down.

Will this season finally be the turning point? Will this season be different? We'll see. But If healthy, you can not count out the Clippers.

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