From 2019 onwards, the LA Clippers have prided themselves in the superstars they have employed. It is not easy to acquire future Hall of Famers like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden within a few seasons, which speaks volumes about how the Clippers have evolved into an organization that top talents would like to join.
Furthermore, the superstar duo and trio mindset has been ‘the method’ to winning championships for decades. Michael Jordan did it with the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant did it with the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James did it with the Miami Heat, and Stephen Curry did it with the Golden State Warriors.
However, times have changed significantly, and winning is far more home-grown than ever. Giannis Antetokounmpo stayed true to his roots with the Milwaukee Bucks, winning in 2021. Similarly, Nikola Jokić won in 2023, and Jayson Tatum won in 2024.
Moreover, an overlooked aspect of these rosters is their considerable depth, which extends beyond the concept of developing potential to become the best in the NBA. That is significant, but having a deep team is just as important in the playoffs, and the NBA Community is witnessing it once again through the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers.
This was a concern for the Clippers in the regular season and the playoffs, showing what separates them from the two teams going to war in the NBA Finals.
Having depth across the board is an aspect the LA Clippers failed to figure out all season
It is one thing for head coach Tyronn Lue to simmer down the LA Clippers’ playoff rotation, but it is another when several of those guys are underperforming. The only ones who showed up and showed out against the Denver Nuggets were Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.
With the Indiana Pacers, they have so much more weaponry behind their stars in Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. The list begins with Myles Turner, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith and continues with Thomas Bryant, Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker.
Indiana legitimately has 11 guys who can rise to the occasion, and similarly does the Oklahoma City Thunder. The obvious contributors are Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, but their rotation can stretch as far as Isaiah Joe and Cason Wallace, and the team will not miss a beat.
That said, the Clippers need depth stacked behind James Harden, Leonard, and Zubac, and a way to add more role players is to trade Norman Powell, an expert scorer.