As they head into the final 27 games of their regular season schedule, the LA Clippers are in an excellent spot. Sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, the Clippers continue to defy the expectations placed on them before the season began. While everyone thought the departure of Paul George would sink this group, it has actually allowed the rest of this roster to thrive that much more.
It seemed perhaps a bit far-fetched at the time, but Norman Powell's media day statement about how losing George would be "addition by subtraction" has actually played out near-perfectly. The offseason additions made to this team have been a massive boost, and the roster's depth has ensured they remained in the playoff picture for the vast majority of the season.
With all that said, the Clippers do have some obvious flaws. Their offensive output has been leaving something to be desired for much of the season, and the numbers show it. As of this writing, LA ranks 18th in offensive efficiency, 21st in points per game, and 24th in assists per game. Employing a porous defense will never win you a championship, but there comes a point in time where having a lackluster offense will come back to bite you as well.
Chris Paul could be the missing piece for the Clippers' offense
As we look around the league at players who could be potential buyout candidates for the Clippers to add, one jumps to the forefront of the discussion - Chris Paul. The San Antonio Spurs' point guard has been a big lift to one of LA's rivals this season, but the recent news of Victor Wembanyama's season-ending injury could change the trajectory of CP3's season. If he is not helping the Spurs fight for a play-in spot and if Wembanyama is not even able to be on the court, then what is Paul really there for?
There have been no real indicators that Chris would want a change of scenery, but that could potentially materialize in the coming days as he assesses his situation. If he is open to making a move somewhere else for the final two months of the regular season, why not come back to Los Angeles and inject his unique brand of leadership into this Clippers locker room?
Paul is obviously a franchise legend, and having him back in a Clippers uniform would be a dream come true for many fans. He is not the game-changing player he once was, but his offensive genius could still serve to elevate this roster's ceiling. If he is open to the idea in the slightest, I would think Lawrence Frank would be calling the Spurs' line about it nonstop.