One thing is for sure about the LA Clippers' upcoming season: there will be plenty of new faces to get acclimated to. After Paul George's departure, the Clippers' front office loaded up on useful role players to offset the loss of one of its biggest stars.
This was clearly something LA's management prepared for well in advance. If there was a 50/50 shot George stayed or left, they were going to make sure they had pieces in place to get this team back on the right track in the event he skipped town.
Throughout the offseason, the Clippers added some impactful role players and talents that they believe can help them remain in the playoff picture in the Western Conference. The biggest of these was Derrick Jones Jr., who is coming off a career year with the Dallas Mavericks.
From there, the other biggest additions were Kris Dunn, Nic Batum, and Kevin Porter Junior. After not playing in the NBA since April 2023 due to a suspension, Porter will be the biggest question mark headed into the Clippers' season. Many have speculated about what his role will look like, and Ty Lue recently answered questions about his expectations for Kevin.
Tyronn Lue on if Kevin Porter Jr. is a rotation player for the Clippers:
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) September 25, 2024
“He definitely can make an impact. You don't get paid $20 million a year in Houston if you can't play. He's a great talent. It's gonna be my job to make sure we get the best out of him. He can score the… pic.twitter.com/rCRgFSjUrI
Lue: KPJ will be "a big part" of the Clippers' success
The Clippers hosted a pre-media day session with Ty Lue and Lawrence Frank, where both figures spoke to local media and gave the fanbase some insight into various team topics. When asked about Kevin Porter and whether he expects him to be a rotation player, Lue had plenty to say.
"He definitely can make an impact," Lue said. "You don't get paid $20 million a year in Houston if you can't play. He's a great talent. It's gonna be my job to make sure we get the best out of him." This immediately puts to rest any suspicions that the team would sit him due to his prior suspension.
"He can score the basketball, he can make plays, and I'm gonna stay on him and coach him hard," said Ty. "He’s a great talent. For us to have success, he's gonna be a big part of that, so I'm excited for him and the opportunity to coach him.” Putting aside any concerns about Porter's past, this should certainly thrill Clippers fans.
Kevin was a tremendous talent in Houston, where he became a near 20-point per game scorer back in 2022-23 (19.2 points per game in 59 games). Although he played in Greece this past season and did not compete at the highest level in the NBA, it still seems that his impact is being underrated.
The fact that Lue thinks so highly of Porter and is ready to take him under his wing this coming season looks to be a fantastic sign of things to come. Ty's statement of Kevin being expected to be a big part of the Clippers' success is no small thing, and it begins to create an idea of just how important he may be in the coming months.