Nearly every offseason for the LA Clippers, excuses and high levels of criticism arise about what the team has improved. Last summer, the changes were minor, and the media discussed the Clippers relying on a version of James Harden who was past his prime, while not having Kawhi Leonard for an unpredictable timeframe.
However, the Clippers won 50 games, Leonard ended the year on a strong note, and Harden was selected to the league's third All-NBA team, which also earned him an All-Star selection, marking his eleventh honor in 16 seasons.
Moreover, the Clippers were the fifth seed with numerous holes in their roster. To name a few, they did not have a backup big man, as Tyronn Lue had been using Kai Jones, and the point guard rotation was essentially Harden by himself, with the coaching staff trying to maximize Kris Dunn's offense.
Dunn did great, showing he can be a solid facilitator, especially in the high-post area, but the gap was still there for the front office to find backup assistance for Harden.
This summer, the Clippers have properly addressed every issue differently from what they did at the deadline with Drew Eubanks and Ben Simmons; yet, the word on the street is that LA has turned itself into a nursery home due to its aging roster.
In the end, executive Lawrence Frank knows what is best, and he has done a phenomenal job of renovating the 2024-25 roster to make it one that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Western Conference.
The LA Clippers' added depth and star talent have made them relatively equal to the best teams in the Western Conference
After adding Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, Brook Lopez, and John Collins, it would be impossible for the LA Clippers not to improve their standings from this season, where they were the fifth seed. They are impeccable one through five, with depth that will even the playing field if an injury occurs.
Conversely, the Clippers would not move up by much, as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets lie ahead. This makes LA the fourth-best team in the Western Conference, for now.
Nonetheless, LA can make themselves the best by winning regular-season games as a team next season, for stretches, like what the Cleveland Cavaliers did in 2024-25. This would be the reward for Lawrence Frank, as he has constructed a championship-caliber roster that will allow fans to obtain the championship feeling.