Expert claims the LA Clippers championship window has closed

The Los Angeles Clippers are at a crucial juncture. Although the team is opening a new chapter by playing in their home arena—the Intuit Dome—they will be doing so with minimal expectations, especially after losing All-Star wingman Paul George without receiving any compensation and replacing him with solid yet unexciting role players this offseason. These factors have led Bleacher Report writer Dan Favale to conclude that the Clippers’ “window to win” an NBA title is closed shut this coming season.

No longer relevant

Five years ago, the City of Angels was excited after the Clippers acquired not just one but two elite two-way players, Kawhi Leonard and PG. Fast-forward to 2024, and the Clippers are teetering on the edge of returning to their irrelevant stature in the league. This development came to be after the Clippers lost PG, a six-time member of the All-NBA team, in free agency, leaving their fate in the hands of the talented but oft-injured Kawhi and the fast-declining James Harden.

“Everything comes down to how soon you believe this squad will fade out of relevance because it's absolutely happening. The Clippers just lost Paul George for nothing, which inextricably ties their next three years to Kawhi Leonard's health and a soon-to-be 35-year-old James Harden,” Favale wrote .

“Good luck with that,” he added.

No long-term plan

The present and the future do not look rosy for LA’s other squad. Aside from having a disjointed roster that lacks star talent outside of “The Claw” and “The Beard,” the Clippers also lack young players they can develop or first-rounders they can use to flip for more talented and experienced players.

“Los Angeles does not have any blue-chip prospects to offset decline or absences from either of its stars—or to begin replacing George. It also doesn't have a wealth of first-rounders to trade for upgrades. And that presumes it's even willing to mortgage more of its future for the present,” Favale continued. “Truth be told, the Clippers seem more likely to trade Kawhi this coming season than their 2031 first-round pick. That says it all.”

With these things in mind, Clippers fans should brace themselves for a rocky campaign in the 2024-2025 season. While the results will likely be forgettable, the campaign could serve as a crucial inflection point for the franchise.

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