The Los Angeles Clippers have been hoping for a championship since Kawi Leonard arrived in 2019, but have never endured the hype.
Their biggest achievements are missing, appearing in the Western Conference finals despite Kawi Leonard playing alongside multiple All-Stars.
The main perpetrator behind their shortage is Leonard’s persistent injury issues. The Superstar has played more than 60 games more than once since joining Los Angeles, which only included 37 games last season.
The report linking the Clippers to Bradley Beal and Chris Paul raises serious concerns about the construction of the roster.
Beal is already 32 years old, with Paul over 40, potentially creating the core for four players over 30 along with Leonard and James Harden.
Considering Beal’s recent history of injuries, health concerns increase. The former Washington star hasn’t played more than 60 games since the 2018-19 season, reflecting Leonard’s availability issues that have plagued the franchise.
NBA journalist Howard Beck highlighted the inherent risk of building around Leonard’s limits. “You’re on Kawi Leonard’s train. You’re just there. So what you can do is look at the people you have and look at them and say, “Does this group make sense together? Do we make it even deeper?”
Beck highlighted the built-in concerns, acknowledging the strength of the Clippers’ paper.
“And you enter the season with the hopes of getting closer to a full season from Kawi. And what does that mean if you just play 37 with him and win 50 games?”
“Given the built-in limitations and concerns they have as a Kawi Leonard team, I feel pretty good considering they are there. You’re constantly getting older here.”
Beck summed up the ultimate gambling. “If it could be Beale and Chris Paul, James Harden and Kawhi, then this is an old team and there’s a lot of volatility that comes with health risks, but that’s a really good player too.”
Beck’s analysis has weight because talent levels cannot be denied. Potential quartets include a former All-Star, a former MVP, a former Finals MVP, and three controversial Hall of Fame inductees on their resume.
Beyond the power of the stars, the Clippers boast solid depths with new additions offering sizes like Ivica Zubac, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kris Dunn, and Brook Lopez and Zach Collins.
The Clippers have the talent to run deep in the postseason, especially if Leonard stays healthy during the playoffs.
However, if “” is the biggest word surrounding this franchise’s championship aspiration remains in the aging and injury-prone core.