Next steps for Clippers: Re-sign one star, haggle with another

We're entering another offseason in the NBA, and the Los Angeles Clippers are again claiming next season will be the season.

If you're feeling a sense of déjà vu, you're not losing touch with reality — we've gone through this charade every year since the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard and traded for Paul George in the summer of 2019. 

The experiment hasn't been a full-on disaster — L.A. made its first Western Conference finals in a long time in 2021 — but it hasn't produced the annual domination of the Western Conference that, from a mere talent standpoint, it probably should. 

So, five years into this era of Clippers basketball, we ask again: "What do they do now?"

The answer to that question has been "run it back" for years, and, yet again, the Clippers might not have many options besides that.

Find some distributors

When a team's three best players thrive in isolation as the Clippers' best do, that team is destined to dwell in the league's basement in most passing statistics. L.A.'s creators are good enough to buoy this offense for the most part — the Clippers (51-31 in 2023-24) ranked fourth in the league in offensive rating during the regular season.

Still, an offense catered to individual playmaking is easier to decipher in the playoffs, as Dallas did in beating the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs in six games. 

In short, finding players who willingly move the ball should be on the team's checklist this offseason. The player doesn't have to be a star, just someone who can bring diversity to Los Angeles' offense. (Think free agents Monte Morris of Minnesota or Tyus Jones of Washington.)

Re-sign Paul George

George has a player option for next season for $48.7 million. For most NBA players, opting in would be a no-brainer, but George is 34, and opting in would mean hitting the free-agent market as a 35-year-old. 

Instead, George could (and likely will) opt out now and thus guarantee himself a paycheck for more than just 2024-25. If he does that, the Clippers shouldn't hesitate to re-sign him to a long-term deal. George was phenomenal last season (22.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG) and played in more regular-season games (74) than any season since 2018-19. 

George is still a star, and health doesn't seem to be an issue for him for the first time in a while. When an All-Star is happy on your team, especially in 2024, don't overthink things. Get a deal done.

Haggle with James Harden

The market for Harden (16.6 PPG, 8.5 APG) isn't hot — we learned that last season, when Philadelphia was trying to start a bidding war for his services, but the Clippers were the only team even remotely interested.

Now an unrestricted free agent, Harden doesn't have the value he once did, so there could be a stalemate this summer between the front office and the player's camp.

There's no reason for Los Angeles to overpay Harden, who turns 35 Aug. 26, because no other team will swoop in with a huge offer.

Just keep trying 

The Clippers are in so deep with their core that trucking forward with the same group until the wheels fall off might be the only option for the next few seasons.

Los Angeles will open a new arena for 2024-25, and owner Steve Ballmer and the rest of L.A.'s front office must fill seats, which is best done with star power. There are worse predicaments for franchises than not being able to figure out how to operate with three old stars. 

Who knows how we'll remember this era when it eventually ends, but at this point, L.A. might as well see it through. After all, it only takes one healthy season and a little postseason luck for this franchise to reverse its fortunes and change how the NBA world views these Clippers.