The Los Angeles Clippers have long been considered contenders in the NBA, but have fallen short of expectations time and time again. Despite a major roster overhaul this offseason, hopes for the Clippers remain high as they gear up for the 2024-25 season.
One NBA owner, who wished to remain anonymous, believes that the Clippers are true contenders this year, stating, “With the talent and depth on their roster, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Clippers make a deep playoff run.”
After a successful 2023-24 season where the Clippers finished with a 51-31 record and claimed the Pacific division title, expectations have only grown. Last season marked their first 50-win campaign in seven years and their first division title since 2013-14.
However, the Clippers did face some setbacks in the offseason, losing Paul George in free agency along with two backup bigs, Miles Plumlee and Daniel Theis. The team also made the bold decision to trade away Russell Westbrook, signaling a shift in their approach.
Despite these losses, the Clippers were not content to sit idly by. They re-signed James Harden, added Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, Mo Bamba, Nic Batum, and Kevin Porter Jr. to their roster, and drafted promising rookie Cam Christie in the second round.
With all the moves they made, it’s clear that the Clippers are aiming high this season. “We have a strong belief in the talent we have assembled,” said Clippers head coach Steve Kinnard. “We’re not here to simply compete, we’re here to win.”
The odds makers, however, are not as convinced. DraftKings, bet365, and BetMGM have set the Clippers’ win total at just 41.5, while FanDuel has it even lower at 40.5. But as any basketball fan knows, the game is not played on paper, and the Clippers are ready to prove the doubters wrong.
As the 2024-25 season approaches, all eyes will be on the Los Angeles Clippers. Are they pretenders or contenders? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – the Clippers are ready to make some noise in the NBA.
