“LA’s second team.” “A team with no fans.” “Nothing without Paul George.” By now you must have guessed whom we’re talking about. Yes, the LA Clippers- a team that has repeatedly failed to aim for the stars. Well, it might sound a bit harsh, but there’s no other way to put it across. Besides, even their head coach, Ty Lue seemingly agrees with the fans’ disappointment with the team. However, he’s ambitious; as a former NBA champ with the Lakers and a championship-winning coach with the Cavaliers, Lue is dreaming big. But there’s a massive problem that isn’t even a secret.

Stephen A. Smith was eager to talk to the superstar of an NBA personality Ty Lue. On The Stephen A. Smith Show, the host and the Clippers HC discussed the team’s situation, Kawhi Leonard’s absence, and PG. Starting with The Klaw, Lue said: “I want to say, first of all, Kawhi is a hell of a worker. He’s a hard worker and like you say, the top-five player when he’s healthy. And it’s just, that he’s been unfortunate with the injury bug.” We surely don’t have to go down the rabbit hole of Kawhi Leonard’s injury history. Moreover, the 2x NBA champ has yet to debut in the ongoing season. His knee woes have been his biggest nightmare.

Ty Lue continued: “But it’s not from a lack of work. It’s not from a lack of wanting to be on the floor. For me, I just know if I had PG and Kawhi, like I said, and James in the playoffs. Or even before James got there, I think I could win at a high level. That’s the pressure that I put on myself. If we have been healthy, I think we could win at a high level and we haven’t had that opportunity.” Yes, a healthy team seems like a distant dream for the Clippers. Over the years, despite having some of the best talents on the roster, injuries have made life miserable for them.

Besides, there’s no one on the team to fill in for the void Paul George left behind him. No, James Harden alone can’t create the magic. Thus, with a shaky roster and a record of 14-10 in the 2024/25 NBA season, Ty Lue is looking forward to more wins. However, the 47-year-old head coach hasn’t moved on from PG and his importance in the team.

Clippers HC Ty Lue is missing Paul George’s presence on the team

“We miss PG,” Ty Lue expressed without a moment’s hesitation. “When you lose a talent like PG who can score the basketball, who can guard five different positions on the floor. That’s a tough loss.” Paul George was at the center of the LA Clippers’ game plans for the five seasons he played for them. He was kind of the perfect small forward for the imperfect team. However, as rumors once suggested, James Harden’s contract extension drove him out of Ty Lue’s umbrella thus finding a place with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Lue added: “I know he had to do what was best for him and for his family as far as the fourth year. And getting max. You know, who could turn down the extra $70 million? Especially going to the final stages of your career. So I understood that.” Paul George is on a four-year, $211 million deal with the Sixers. Moreover, he’s most likely to be with them till the end of his stunning NBA career. Simply put, the Clippers should let go of their dream of bringing him back any time soon.

The HC also expressed his desires to Stephen A. Smith. Of course, Ty Lue is aiming for the championship but with Paul George, he feels it would be hard. Moreover, “I wanted to win a championship for Mr. Ballmer and Lawrence Frank and for the Clippers organization.” He added: “I wanted PG and Kawhi to be a part of it because they’re from LA. And to come to the Clippers instead of the Lakers, I thought it was huge.” Of course, choosing the ‘second team’ of La instead of the Lakers, PG, and Leonard surely gave hope to the Clippers fans. However, the team has yet to find their ground in the league.

Ty Lue’s honest confessions at The Stephen A. Smith Show have clarified one thing: Health woes are crashing championship dreams. Moreover, with PG gone, one of the cornerstones of the Clippers is lost. The only hopes left are Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. But, when will the Klaw come back to the floor? And, can Harden alone push the team ahead? There’s a lot to worry about.