After a disappointing end to the season, followed by an exciting off-season, the LA Clippers are set to open their preseason campaign tomorrow night, October 9th, at 10:30 PM EST (7:30 PM PST). This will be fans' first chance to see new acquisitions John Collins and Bradley Beal, in addition to Chris Paul’s return to the Clippers, having last played for the team during the 2016-2017 season.
Due to age, the Clippers’ starters will most likely be on a minutes restriction, capped at around 20-25 minutes each. Out of the starters, Ivica Zubac and John Collins will most likely get the most minutes of the rest. Expect rookies Kobe Sanders and Yanic Konan Niederhauser to play the most, with both showing real flashes during the preseason.
The Clippers' newcomers have a lot to prove in their first preseason appearance
Recent acquisitions, including Patrick Baldwin Jr., a top recruit coming out of high school but yet to find his footing in his NBA career, Butler standout Jahmyl Telfort, and Yale star John Poulakidas, will all battle for the Clippers’ final roster spot. Others battling for the final spot include Jason Preston and Jordan Miller.
Miller appeared in 37 games for the Clippers last season and showed some promise, but he enters this season on another two-way contract. Preston, a former second-round pick acquired by the Clippers in the 2021 draft, spent the last two seasons in Utah before signing with the Clippers in August. He did not appear in an NBA game last season.
Of the guys named so far, Miller stands out as the most likely candidate for the final roster spot. However, Poulakidas checks many boxes for any team.
In one word, Poulakidas is efficient. At Yale last season, he averaged just under 20 points and just under 40% from three. Since he played at the mid-major level last season, the biggest question mark will be whether he can adjust to the NBA. It is worth noting that, in limited Summer League action, Poulakidas did struggle, totaling just three makes in 23 shots. From three, it was no better, just making one of fifteen.
Of the new acquisitions with a guaranteed contract, Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal leave the most uncertainty. Lopez joins from the Milwaukee Bucks, where he averaged 13 points and five rebounds. While he was a starter in Milwaukee, the Clippers would love that same production from their new bench center.
The concern is his age. Lopez will be 38 years old by season's end, which raises questions about his physical condition, fitness, and potential decline. While over the course of his career, Lopez has not been the quickest or most agile, the hope is that those traits will not deteriorate significantly.
In regards to Beal, he is currently listed as a game-time decision for tomorrow night. Beal underwent a knee-scope back in May and has been a limited participant throughout training camp, missing a five-on-five scrimmage last week. He is expected to be good to go for the start of the regular season.
This Guangzhou Loong-Lions team should not be taken lightly. Led by former two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo and former top-10 pick Frank Kaminsky, the Loong-Lions have a total of four former NBA players on their roster, with every one trying to make it back to the best league in the world. After losing to the San Antonio Spurs, the Clippers must quickly get back up to speed to avoid embarrassment.