Rising in age after leaving the postseason in the first round is not something the LA Clippers should be striving for this summer. It is unintentional, as there are veterans like Chris Paul who could make the team better. However, head coach Tyronn Lue will need a youngster’s legs and athleticism next season, and he will end up looking to the basketball gods for answers as no solution exists in the rotation.
The Clippers have not made anything official with Paul, yet a 37-year-old Brook Lopez and a 32-year-old Bradley Beal were signed recently, and they are expected to carry a heavy load for both units in 2025-26.
Lopez’s skillset could coerce different unstoppable lineups, some with Zubac. At the same time, Beal is a sure starter, but will share the court with players on the bench as well, with Lue prioritizing the need for staggered minutes to rest James Harden and/or Kawhi Leonard.
Furthermore, the Clippers may be over-trusting their veterans, and, as in the past, a letdown could be inevitable. The current trend is building a winning core that is young, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, but LA is taking an outdated route.
This relates similarly to a point made by ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, who is also a former player and teammate of Harden. On the contrary, factual evidence suggests that Perkins was wrong about his take on the Clippers' current situation.
Kendrick Perkins’ old-age take on the LA Clippers is false, with no infrastructural support
On the ‘First Take,’ Kendrick Perkins was asked about his opinion on the LA Clippers after signing Bradley Beal, and he made a false statement on the team’s roster aging. This could have been a valid argument, only if it were true, but the three-time all-star is the same age in years as Norman Powell.
"They not doing nothing but getting older."@KendrickPerkins feels the addition of Bradley Beal will do nothing for the Clippers 👀 pic.twitter.com/P9ZSUEaTyr
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 17, 2025
Moreover, in the event Chris Paul is signed, Tyronn Lue would not necessarily be losing anything by taking a risk with the 40-year-old veteran and giving him 25 minutes per contest, as there is no floor general on the bench.
A similar concept applies to Brook Lopez, who is currently the oldest Clipper; yet, he is the first established backup center since the addition of John Wall, and he adds dimensions to Lue’s rotation, elevating the team’s ceiling.
That said, the sky is the limit for the Clippers’ current roster, especially if Paul is added; thus, Perkins must take a second look at the take he made on LA’s age, as it was immediately proven otherwise.