The LA Clippers are going to be entering the 2025-26 season with one of the deepest rosters in the Western Conference. Considering the state of the league, this is a very good thing, and it's something team president Lawrence Frank addressed recently when he revealed that the plan is to run a nine-man rotation. The only issue is that Frank also noted the team has 11 quality players worthy of real minutes.
That kind of math problem is usually the source of midseason frustration. Veteran players do not typically sign up to be the eleventh man. And on a team that just saw James Harden re-sign while John Collins, Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal and Chris Paul were all added to the fold, it becomes a lot more difficult to figure out which names will be left out.
But here is where things get a little more layered. For all the concerns this dilemma might cause, it may not be the nightmare it appears to be on the surface. If anything, it might end up being a blessing.
The Clippers' big rotation may provide insurance for injuries
The Clippers have dealt with significant injuries in seemingly every recent season. With all the seasoned veterans currently in this locker room, it is difficult to imagine this team getting through an entire season unscathed. And that is exactly why having eleven playable guys could work in their favor.
By the time January rolls around, there is a decent chance that someone in the starting lineup will be sidelined with at least a minor ailment. That would instantly solve the depth chart logjam and allow one of the “odd men out” to jump right in. In that sense, Frank may have built a roster that is not only prepared for adversity but one that is fortified against it.
Of course, there is still a balancing act here. The Clippers are hoping to contend, and that kind of goal typically requires a fully bought-in locker room. Managing the minutes of players further down the bench may take some finesse. But as long as the communication stays open, the logic is hard to argue with.
Obviously, it is better to have too many NBA-level contributors than not enough, especially for a team that knows how fragile health can be over an 82-game stretch. The Clippers may have a tough decision ahead when it comes to trimming the nightly rotation, but given their recent history, they might end up being thankful they had extra bodies to turn to.