Speaking in retrospect, the LA Clippers surely did not have many significant holes in their roster if the team hit the lucky number fifty in the win column. The defense from Ivica Zubac kept the roster from shattering, and James Harden finished the rest with a fire that ignited a spark in everyone.
Moreover, Tyronn Lue understood the assignment and did relatively well behind the scenes in forming a system that put the hardworking individuals, both on and off the court, in a position to succeed and receive a high level of respect around the NBA.
Hence, Harden and Zubac saw their names on the big screen at the end of the season, and although the league did not recognize him, Kris Dunn caught the eyes of experts and was noted in the scouting reports of opponents as a pesky defender to watch.
Conversely, where Lue failed entirely last season was even the slightest bit of commitment to Cam Christie, the second-round pick drafted in 2024.
Christie could not prove anything with the measly minutes Lue gave him; thus, he took his only route: outperform the talent in the G-League, showing he is an outlier to the competition.
Part of Lue's decision-making was understandable, given Christie's status as a rookie on a high-expectation roster. However, the other half does not make sense, as the Clippers were by no means an elite three-point shooting team, and the Minnesota product is money from long distances.
Nonetheless, to maximize the Clippers' next season, Lue must focus on the fits of Bradley Beal, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and others, as well as Christie's indicative sophomore season.
Tyronn Lue has a star being held back in Cam Christie, which must change next season for the LA Clippers
Giving Cam Christie 4.5 minutes in just 13 games is unacceptable. Once the regular season ended, the picture cleared up regarding his situation, as Tyronn Lue clearly refused to play him over the veterans, which was a somewhat agreeable decision.
Furthermore, Christie foreshadowed a massive leap with several notable possessions in the summer league, suggesting that for the Clippers to be maximized by their head coach, he should be played.
That said, a summer league campaign that helped his stock plus added strength and knowledge, on how to do more than just shoot, makes Christie one of the hidden keys that must be unlocked next season for LA to surpass the hype.