There has been much speculation about who will be starting for the LA Clippers by the time opening night rolls around. After all the new acquisitions the team made in the offseason, Ty Lue made it clear that starting spots were up for grabs for whoever earned them.
Perhaps you could say the top two guys on the roster had guaranteed spots in the starting five, but it was all up in the air after that. And with Kawhi Leonard's limitations during training camp and preseason, he has not even had a chance to really practice and get reps in with his new teammates. That has complicated the starting lineup situation to an even greater degree.
With the Clippers putting out what is essentially an entirely new team this season, fans were going to be a little shocked no matter who ended up taking the floor against the Phoenix Suns on opening night. But now, Ty Lue has officially declared who will be the starters next Wednesday evening. According to LA's head coach, James Harden, Terance Mann, Norman Powell, Derrick Jones Jr. and Ivica Zubac will be in the starting lineup for the first ever regular season game at Intuit Dome.
Tyronn Lue makes it official that this group will start next week
— Law Murray 🏟️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 15, 2024
Which means that Kawhi Leonard is likely out next week vs the Phoenix Suns to begin the season. https://t.co/eyTtvWPSLZ
Clippers will start Harden, Mann, Powell, Jones Jr., Zubac
All things considered, this is probably the best five you could put on the floor to begin the game if you are the Clippers. Harden is the most obvious starter, given that he is by far the most talented player on this team with Kawhi still sidelined. From there, no one besides Zubac makes sense as LA's starting center. The big man had a career year last season, and will look to continue dominating at both ends on the interior.
From there, the three wings seemed like the hardest positions to determine. Derrick Jones was the Clippers' biggest signing of the offseason, and there has been plenty of hype about his potential impact following such a monster year in Dallas. For having a strong defensive wing presence, his inclusion feels like a no-brainer.
Now, you would have to think that LA would need more shot creation outside of Harden, and that is where Norman Powell comes in. Typically operating as the team's sixth man in years past, Powell will be jumping into the starting unit next Wednesday. He explained at media day that being a starter was a goal of his, and it seems he has earned his way to the opportunity.
The last starter could be no one else but T-Mann. The Clippers' glue guy and spark plug, Mann will do a little bit of everything alongside Harden in the backcourt. Of course, announcing that these five guys will start one hundred percent confirms that Kawhi Leonard will be out when the regular season begins. That remains concerning to a degree, but Clippers fans can take comfort in knowing the starting lineup is set and the coaching staff has a plan for the time being.