Stock soaring for 2 Clippers, while 2 are fading fast to begin 2023-24
By Will Eudy
The first two weeks of the 2023-24 season for the LA Clippers have been a true rollercoaster. While the team started out performing at a high level on both ends of the floor, the abrupt trade for James Harden has, at least for the moment, caused a significant disruption.
LA has struggled to get it going offensively, leading to them dropping their last three contests. Still, all is not lost. The Clippers have the right pieces to win a lot of games and be a true threat in the Western Conference this season if they can figure things out.
Let’s look at a few players in the Clippers’ locker room that have played exceptionally well to start the season and substantially boosted their stock. We will also examine some others that have suffered from a slow start and look at what they can do to turn things around.
Stock soaring: Norman Powell
With the departure of several rotation wing players like Nicolas Batum and Robert Covington, the Clippers’ depth has taken a hit. As such, players like Norman Powell have been tasked with picking up the slack.
Powell has done an excellent job of that early in the season. His shooting percentages from the field overall and from three-point territory are both up from last season, and he has averaged the most minutes of any non-starter on the roster.
His stock continues to rise after he finished last season third in scoring average for the Clippers. Powell’s continued stellar play can go a long way toward keeping LA’s offense operating efficiently while they adapt to life with Harden.