To talk about the teams that have performed impressively this season, I believe the Clippers definitely count as one of them. With Westbrook leaving, George departing, and Leonard missing most of the season... Harden has managed to lead this underdog team to a fifth-place finish in the West! Recently, with Leonard's return, the Clippers have finally welcomed their complete lineup. So what is this Clippers team still lacking?
Let's first look at the current composition of the Clippers' roster:
Starting lineup: Harden, Powell, Little Jones, Leonard, Zubac; this starting lineup is relatively balanced in both offense and defense: Harden handles the ball and organizes the game, Powell provides firepower, Little Jones and Leonard are the defensive anchors on the wing, and Zubac finishes plays around the basket and protects the rim (if the opposing team's interior isn't too strong). If Leonard fully recovers from his physical condition, his ability to make key shots could even elevate the Clippers to another level!
Bench: Dunn, Little Kevin Porter, Coffey, Batum, Bamba. Among the bench players, Little Kevin Porter can be considered a lucky draw for the Clippers this season. Dunn's defense and Coffey's long-range shooting mean there's no need to worry about the backcourt reserves; however, the frontcourt players Batum and Bamba are old and rough, so we can't expect too much from them.
DNP: Mann, Hield, Tucker; as for other players like Christie, Kobe Brown, and Jordan Miller, they have nice names but not many strengths. It's surprising that Mann has been largely benched, considering that the Clippers almost missed out on Harden for him years ago! He was truly the crown prince.
Looking at the Clippers' lineup as a whole, there are two problems:
Firstly, there is a significant hidden danger at the five position. If Zubac gets injured, the Clippers might not even find a qualified center to replace him. Whether it's K.Jones or Bamba, they can hold up for a few minutes, but we can't expect too much from them;
Secondly, there is a lack of size at the four position. If Batum, who stands at 2.03 meters, were three years younger, the Clippers wouldn't have this problem, but he's now 36, too old! Besides Batum, the Clippers' frontline players Leonard is 2.01 meters, Little Jones is 1.98 meters, and although Coffey is also 2.01 meters, he's too thin. The shorter frontline will put a lot of pressure on defense and rebounding;
Clearly, the Clippers need to strengthen their frontcourt through trades. Currently, the Clippers have the following trade assets:
Players: Tucker (11.53million),Mann(11.42 million), Hield ($4.16 million); all three players are on expiring contracts;
First-round draft picks: 2025, 2027, 2029 first-round picks (the lower pick in the swap with the Thunder); 2031 first-round pick (the lower pick in the swap with the 76ers);
Second-round draft picks: 2025, 2026 second-round picks, 2026 Pistons second-round pick.
It is reported that the Mavericks are interested in trading for Gafford to bolster their wings, and the Clippers should seize this opportunity.