As the LA Clippers are in heavy pursuit of their first-ever championship, there may be some competition throughout the roster. Some players will end up on the regular season roster, while others may find themselves elsewhere. The coaching staff must make the right decisions if the Clippers hope to dominate the Western Conference.
Furthermore, the Clippers have arguably the best wing depth in the entire NBA. Although this is great from a winning perspective, there could be valuable talent LA could lose because there is no room in the active rotation. This adds more pressure on who the front office chooses to move on from.
That said, here are three LA Clippers most likely to lose their spot on the regular-season roster.
3. Amir Coffey
Earlier in the offseason, the LA Clippers were on the verge of trading Amir Coffey for Malcolm Brogdon in a three-team trade. This is a sign that the front office was already looking to move on from the Minnesota product.
Now, Coffey is facing legal trouble from an incident just a few days ago. This only adds more fuel to why the LA Clippers must move on from Coffey, despite how talented he may be.
Additionally, Coffey did not live up to the hype last season after taking over when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were hurt. His numbers dropped in every category, and he was basically out of the active rotation.
He has shown flashes of potential, but if he cannot remain consistent, he will not find himself with a spot on a competitive roster.
2. Jordan Miller
Following a phenomenal showing in the NBA Summer League, it is clear the LA Clippers have a potential star in Jordan Miller. He is a great defender, crashes the glass effortlessly, and makes the right reads on offense, leading to easy buckets.
On that note, in five games of Summer League action, Miller averaged 6.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field and 30.0% from a distance. Though these numbers don’t hold much weight, Miller took his opportunity and displayed his athletic ability.
Moreover, the strengths are there, but so are the weaknesses. Miller is definitely a player that will need development. His three-point jumper and ability to operate in the mid-range could use some work. There is a good chance he spends the majority of the season in the G-League with the Agua Caliente Clippers. However, this could work out, primarily because of how great the coaching staff utilizes young talent.
The last second-round pick to pan out for the Clippers was Terance Mann, who dropped to pick 48 in the 2019 NBA Draft. Comparably, Miller fell to 48 after finishing five years in college. Not to mention these two have similar builds with identical playstyles. If developed properly, there is no doubt that Miller could turn into a star for the LA Clippers.
Nonetheless, there is a slim chance that Miller will end up with a legit roster spot once the season opener rolls around. He must prove to head coach Tyronn Lue that his game is worth quality minutes against some of the best talent in the entire world.
1. Jason Preston
One of the LA Clippers’ biggest question marks over the last two seasons has been the development of Jason Preston. He is in the last year of his contract and is set to become a restricted free agent next offseason.
Some fans may wonder why Preston has yet to flourish into the player he was expected to be. Well, the biggest reason is the foot injury he faced before his rookie season. This put his playing confidence in a challenging position, which has forced him to work his way up in the G-League.
Furthermore, since 2021, the LA Clippers have had numerous championship-contributing guards, such as Reggie Jackson, John Wall, and Russell Westbrook. Additionally, the front office recently traded for another young point guard in Bones Hyland. This shows that there is no room for another guard to gain playing time in the active rotation.
Moreover, Preston dominated the G-League last season, averaging 16.7 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 47.9% from the field. Based on these numbers, he is exceptionally talented. But, in the opportunities he has received from the LA Clippers, it appears he has lost his confidence when attacking the rim. This is not a good sign for a player looking to prove himself.
That said, with Westbrook and Hyland soaking up all the minutes, Preston will likely spend most of the regular season in the G-League. Conversely, there may be opportunities later in the year for the former Ohio product to contribute instantly. Preston must stay ready to prove he is worthy of a prominent bench role.