“I hate to say it but (don’t) sleep on the clippers this yr”. Nick Young’s statement, from back in October 2023, laid down a set expectation for LA’s ‘underdog’ team. Sure enough, the franchise performed well and built upon the previous season’s performance by going 51-31 during the regular season. The duo of Paul George and James Harden was even able to take their squad to the playoffs for the 11th time in 13 years. Therefore, the hope is that they can achieve the same level of success in the upcoming 2024-25 season. Unfortunately, with major changes in the Clippers, it’ll be difficult to know where the team stands until the preseason commences.

Therefore, without any further ado, let us look into the franchise’s upcoming matchups.

What is the LA Clippers Schedule for the 2024-25 Pre-Season?

According to the schedule released by the NBA, James Harden and Co. will kick off their tournament run with a bang! Before commencing the pre-season, the LA Clippers squad will be participating in the training camp set to be held in Hawaii. A tradition that has existed for over 5 of the last 7 years, coach Tyronn Lue and his players will be returning to the island on October I. They will conduct the sessions at the Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawaii campus. At the same time, the Golden State Warriors roster will not be that far away, hosting their training camp at Brigham Young University in Oahu. However, the duo will come together on October 5, participating in each of their first pre-season game at Honolulu.

By combining Hawaii and the hype that Stephen Curry and co bring, it has been ensured that the matchup is only for the biggest NBA enthusiasts. The same is being reflected by the ticket prices as well, as Vivid Seats highlights that no available seat is being sold for less than $309.

Once James Harden and Co. conclude their Hawaiian experience, they will fly off to Oceanside, California, to take on the Brooklyn Nets. Set to take place on October 8, the tickets for the game at Frontwave Arena have favorable prices, starting as low as $69. It’s a bargain to witness a matchup whose outcome cannot be predetermined. After all, the Clippers have only managed to establish a 4-6 win record against its Eastern Conference rival. With a changed roster, the pre-season matchup provides the perfect opportunity to determine whether the Clippers can now hold their own against the Nets.

The Clippers will only have a brief rest, as the roster will soon fly off to Seattle to take on the Portland Trail Blazers on October 11. The win predictability for this game may be higher than the previous one, given that the Clippers currently hold a 9-1 record against its rival. In fact, the last time that Anfernee Simons and Co. won a game against the LA team was back in October 2021! Whether it is the predictability factor or not, the ticket prices for these games start down from $21.

Since the 1999-2000 season, the LA Clippers had been sharing the Hollywood city’s prestigious Crypto.Com Arena with the Lakers and NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. From the upcoming season onwards, however, things could change for the better. The NBA franchise will host its games at the brand-new Intuit Dome, located in Inglewood, California. Built at the cost of $2 billion, it finally gives the Clippers a home after decades. The first-ever Clippers game in the arena will also be its fourth pre-season one, as it will take on the Dallas Mavericks on October 14.

Similarly to the Brooklyn Nets, the Clippers only have a 4-6 win record against Luka Doncic and co. However, their rivalry has only grown over the last few years. Both the Clippers and the Mavericks competed against each other in the first round of three of the last five playoffs. Clippers had the advantage in 2020 and 2021, but the Mavericks were able to take the win during the 2024 playoffs. While the LA team will have the home-court advantage during the pre-season game, the Mavericks will be coming in with a big acquisition: former Warriors star Klay Thompson. Therefore, in a game fuelled by the hype of a new arena, new players, and an old rivalry, anything can happen.

The Clippers will conclude their pre-season with a matchup against the Sacramento Kings, on October 17. Both teams are currently tied with a 5-5 win record. But the Kings hold the recent advantage. Fortunately, this game will also be taking place in the Intuit Dome, allowing the cheers of the home crowd to motivate the Clippers forward. With a brand-new arena, there would be no better time for the Clippers to make a championship run than now. Unfortunately, thanks to a major trade, the only direction the franchise may be heading, for the moment, is a potential rebuild.

“Short term blow” – NBA Insider downplays LA Clippers’ potential progress after Paul George exit

The NBA world received a shocking update in late June after Paul George opted out of his player option with the LA Clippers. Instead, he chose to sign on with the Philadelphia 76ers for a four-year max contract. Several reports pinned the blame on the Clippers’ inability to stay below the luxury tax and apron limits set under the CBA guidelines. The same also prevented them from trading the star player for another, as it would have been hard to maintain the salaries of the new player/players without incurring severe penalties. Unfortunately, with this trade, the franchise may have briefly closed all doors for a championship title.

In a report published in early July, ‘The Athletic’ reporter Law Murray highlighted the steps that the Clippers can take going forward. He stated that “George’s departure from the franchise is a short-term blow that makes it clear that championship expectations should be muted going forward. It’s questionable if the Clippers can expect to be players in free agency in 2025. The franchise still does not control their first-round pick until 2030. But the goal for the Clippers is to be back in position to attract a max-level player as soon as 2026.”

The franchise still has James Harden and Kawhi Leonard to guide them through. Unfortunately, being 35 years of age, Harden may not stay in the league for long. Combine that with the fact that Leonard’s current contract will expire by 2027, the need is for a player who can carry the team for the later part of the decade.

“Just like the Clippers took two years to bridge from Lob City to 213, they are looking to turn a short-term setback into identifying who will lead their next era,” Murray continued.

According to Athlon Sports, even if Kawhi Leonard is healthy enough by the next few months, he will mostly be engaging in heavy load management next season. Will newly acquired Kris Dunn fill the offensive gap left by George? We’ve to wait and see. Till then, the upcoming pre-season can serve as a benchmark for what to expect from the Clippers, throughout the 2024-25 season.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.