The dawn of a new era! With the Clippers moving into the Intuit Dome in Inglewood to start the upcoming season and finally leaving the shadow of LA’s more accomplished franchise, it certainly seems like a fresh start for Steve Ballmer’s team. And it’s extremely crucial for them to have a great run this year and set a precedent for the future. But with Paul George departing to Philly, does the current roster have what it takes to make an impact?

Well, Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank are doing everything in their power to build a title-contending team as they have officially signed big man Ivica Zubac to a three-year $58.6 million contract extension, securing his future with the team for 4 more years. Surely, the fans would be ecstatic by this extension as Zubac has been a key piece in the roster for the past six years and turned into a highly effective Center.

This past season, he averaged 11.7 points and nearly turned it into a double-double stat line with over 9 rebounds. Moreover, he has also been a great defensive presence by getting over one block on a nightly basis. An underrated aspect of Zu’s game is his availability, as he has played over 70 games in four of the last five years!

Acknowledging his impact, Frank said, “We don’t take for granted that we can pencil in our starting center and defensive anchor every night, every year. Zu is a rock for our organization and will remain so.” With his future secure, let’s look at how the team is shaping up so far.

Los Angeles Clippers’ roster for the upcoming 2024-25 season

Soon after PG skipped town, Russell Westbrook was also traded to Utah, putting an early end to the Big Four era. So, now the onus to lead the team falls on Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. And their supporting cast and the depth chart look something like this:

Not only have the Clippers lost PG and Russ, but they also saw big men Daniel Theis and Mason Plumlee departing in free agency. Maybe, that was one of the reasons why it was so important to secure Zubac as the starting Center. On top of that, they added seven-footer Mo Bamba, who is likely to be a backup for Zu. Then, they added a veteran presence in Nicolas Batum, who is an elite sharpshooter with a career 36.6% efficiency from deep range.

And bringing in more firepower in the point guard position, Lawrence Frank acquired Kris Dunn via sign and trade. Averaging 5.4 points and nearly 4 assists last season, Dunn could share Harden’s backup role with Bones Hyland and give the team a diverse offense.

Then, there is also Kevin Porter Jr. who has proven to be an elite scorer and playmaker during his days in Houston. Although he played in Greece last year, he averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists with the Rockets before that season.

Last but not least, they signed high flyer Derrick Jones Jr. on a three-year $30 million deal. Surely, his recent run to the Finals with the Mavs will be an added advantage for the team in their pursuit of playing winning basketball. And his playoff performance proved that he is a solid defender who can guard multiple positions.

While the Clippers have added a lot of depth this summer, it does seem like they need another star to get over the hump as Russ and PG’s departure has left a huge void to fill.

Los Angeles Clippers’ salary cap and season expectations

With Zubac’s extension, the Clippers’ total cap allocations for next season are at $177.5 million. Although seeing their two stars leave was a heartbreaking sight, the one good thing that came out of it is that the team is now well below the first apron level set at $178.1 million for next season. And that saves Ballmer from major tax penalties and gives them more freedom to make moves during the season.

Sure enough, the highest-paid athlete on the roster remains Kawhi Leonard with an allocated $49.2 million salary for the upcoming season. Close behind is James Harden, who recently signed a two-year $70 million extension. Following the two superstars are Powell with $19.2 million and Zubac, Tucker, and Mann, all above the $11 million mark.

With their roster set, the big question remains: How far can they go next season? Well, a lot of it would depend on Kawhi Leonard’s health. Just recently, he withdrew from the Olympics campaign because of health concerns and missed quite a few games last season due to injury. And without him being available, there is not much the team might be able to do.

Moreover, with most teams in the West upgrading this summer, the competition is only going to get tougher. Not having made it out of the first round in the last 3 years, the sword is certainly hanging over the Clippers’ head. So, they will either need another star player or an MVP-caliber season from Kawhi and Harden to make a deep run this year. Do you think they can get over the hump this time?

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.