2. Los Angeles Clippers
Last season: 48-34, 8th in Western Conference
Notable additions: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Maurice Harkless, Patrick Patterson
Notable subtractions: Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
In one of the most drastic overhauls in recent NBA history, the Clippers added two of the league’s best players without losing much of the depth that made them successful last season. While they’ll likely manage their stars similarly to the Lakers, that extra complimentary talent should see them stay in the fight for the top seed.
Load management or not, this team clearly starts with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. One is the reigning Finals MVP, one finished third in MVP voting last season, and together they may be the only duo that can rival LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Leonard seems to have perfected the art of peaking in the playoffs, as he now has two Finals MVP trophies to go with just three All-NBA selections. He was still outstanding in the regular season last year, averaging 26.6 points per game and earning All-NBA and All-Defensive Second Team nods despite missing 22 games. His playoffs were a masterpiece though, an all-time great postseason run where he averaged over 30 points per game and willed the Raptors to their first championship.
After re-signing with the Thunder a year ago, George took over the team and led them into the playoffs with a dominant regular season. He too was an All-NBA and All-Defensive selection, and his two-way excellence kept the Thunder afloat in their pursuit of a playoff berth.
The biggest concern for both superstars is their health. Leonard missed 22 games not through a specific injury, but through the management of his previous leg injuries. It’s likely that he will require a similar management style this season, even if his past ailments don’t actually return. George, meanwhile, suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder late last season that saw his shooting numbers nosedive – over the last 18 games of the regular season, he shot just 40.4 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from deep.
If healthy, though, both stars should complement each other and their new teammates very well. The Clippers may have the most individual defensive talent in the league, with George, Leonard and Patrick Beverley all regulars in the All-Defensive teams.
Landry Shamet‘s outstanding shooting in his rookie year should see him start alongside Beverley, and he’ll be crucial in spacing the floor and hitting open shots when defenses collapse on George and Leonard. Montrezl Harrell and Ivica Zubac will provide plenty of muscle in the center spot, and Lou Williams seems to be getting better with age and will continue to be a spark off the bench.
With some added versatility in the lower reaches of the bench, the Clippers should be able to hold their own even when one or both of their stars rest. That should keep them right in the hunt for the top spot in the West.