Latest news with #Clippers
Forbes
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
The Los Angeles Clippers Now Have A Chris Paul Problem
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Chris Paul #3 of the LA Clippers argues his foul call during the first ... More half against the Utah Jazz in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) On Monday, it was announced that Chris Paul would spend his 21st and final season with the same franchise he played for from 2011 to 2017. After nearly a decade-long odyssey, Paul is back with the Los Angeles Clippers in a signing that should punctuate what has been a busy offseason for Los Angeles' other basketball team. Along with adding Paul, the Clippers signed Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal, while also trading for John Collins. Last week, I gave my thoughts on what the Clippers' championship outlook looked like heading into next season. But that was before the Paul news. How much does his presence on the roster enhance Los Angeles' chances at a deep playoff run? To put it plainly, is Paul the icing the Clippers need for their title cake? Chris Paul Addresses The Los Angeles Clippers' Greatest Weakness Outside of their age/injury concerns, the Clippers' greatest weakness is their lack of passing, which can cause their offensive process to become muddled – leading to uneven isolation possessions against stingier defensive teams. James Harden is a stupendous distributor, ranking in the 90th percentile in Passer Rating. But other than him, the Clippers don't have a single person in the 66th percentile or higher in this statistical category. Paul may increase the team's average age (he'll be 41 next May), but even in his fifth decade on Earth, the man who sits at second all-time in total assists can still facilitate the basketball. Last season, Grandpa Paul placed in the 93rd percentile in Passer Rating (he has been in the 90th percentile or higher every season of his career, per Thinking Basketball). Paul gives the Clippers another ball mover to keep possessions from growing stale when Harden is taking a break on the bench. His mastery of the pick-and-roll/pick-and-pop will also pair well with the Clippers' troika of bigs (Ivica Zubac, Brook Lopez, and John Collins). The Issue With Playing Chris Paul In theory, Paul addresses the Clippers' passing quandary. That's a game-changer for them, right? Well, not exactly. At this stage of his career, Paul is neither a major threat to score (19th percentile in points per 75 possessions) nor a credible defender (31st percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes). This puts the Clippers in quite a bind. If they close with Paul instead of Beal, they are missing out on the latter's scoring punch. If they play CP3 over Kris Dunn, they would be missing out on an All-League caliber defender. It's a similar story with Derrick Jones Jr., Bogdan Bogdanovic, Collins, etc. As we learned from watching the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers march to the NBA Finals, you need as many versatile players on your roster as possible. As currently constructed, the Clippers still have too many "specialists." Kawhi Leonard is a two-way player. Zubac is one. Batum is one. Harden isn't a two-way player, but his offensive value (94th percentile OFF EPM) is enough to make up for his defensive limitations. But what about that fifth spot? Bogdanovic is a good scorer, but you lose passing and defense with him on the floor. Beal is also a good scorer (and solid playmaker), but he has his own defensive shortcomings. Collins is a skilled big with incredible interior finishing abilities, but his defense is even more devastating given the positions he occupies. Jones and Dunn are two of the best perimeter defenders in basketball, but they aren't good enough shooters to always be trusted down the stretch. Lopez can shoot and protect the rim at a high level, but his lack of mobility can cause him to get played off the floor in the playoffs. Besides, he and Zubac can't realistically share the floor for long periods of time. No matter what, the Clippers' closing lineup will always have at least one guy who is leaving something on the table on one side of the floor or the other. Against bad teams, this won't be an issue. Heck, given all their raw talent, this probably won't be a problem against good teams. But what happens against the great teams like the Thunder or the Cleveland Cavaliers? Paul makes the Clippers a deeper team, which raises their floor. But their ceiling is still limited by their lack of reliable two-way players. Paul is a great value add on a minimum contract (3.6 million dollars in 2025-26), but, at the end of the day, he likely doesn't do enough to raise them to inner circle contender status.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025-26 LA Clippers = the OLDEST team in NBA History
Subscribe to The Big Number Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine crunched the numbers after the CP3 news became official: the 2025-26 LA Clippers are now, officially, the oldest team in NBA history. With an average age of 33.2 years old (!), the Clippers have surpassed the previous record held by the Stockton-and-Malone Utah Jazz. Could this actually work out in LA's favor? Tom and Dan think the Clippers' depth and versatility could propel them to the top of the West if things break their way. Don't miss this episode of The Big Number, which deep dives on Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul and the rest of the seasoned vets that have their eyes on the prize after an interesting offseason. (1:45) - Clippers have the oldest roster in history (16:05) - Little Numbers: Are Clippers built to succeed in 2025 despite their age? (33:40) - Marcus Smart joins the Lakers + our favorite offseason additions 🖥️
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Clippers' Brook Lopez breaks silence on leaving Bucks for LA
The post Clippers' Brook Lopez breaks silence on leaving Bucks for LA appeared first on ClutchPoints. Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez has finally opened up about his decision to leave the Milwaukee Bucks amid NBA Free Agency. The 2021 NBA Champion agreed to a two-year, $18 million deal with the Clippers. He joins a loaded roster featuring Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and head coach Tyronn Lue. For Lopez, the move to LA isn't just a career shift, it's a meaningful homecoming. The 37-year-old center spoke at Summer League in Las Vegas, sharing his excitement about joining a franchise on the rise. 'It's crazy to see, but it's very cool,' Lopez said. 'Seeing the climb, the ascent. I'm a Cali boy. I grew up in the Valley, in North Hollywood.' He added, 'I'm glad to be a part of it, and hopefully, I can help take them even further up.' For Brook Lopez, the move is not just about basketball, it's about returning to Southern California and reuniting with Clippers executive Lawrence Frank, who coached him early in his career with the Nets. After seven successful seasons in Milwaukee, highlighted by a 2021 NBA championship, Lopez shifts to a new role in LA. While Ivica Zubac remains the starting center, the Clippers expect Lopez to play a key supporting role off the bench. 'I think we complement each other extremely well. Obviously, we'll be very big. I think we'll be great defensively, just dominating the paint, sealing the paint off,' he explained. Lopez emphasized that the depth and experience of the Clippers' roster played a major role in his decision. He noted that the team has been successful for quite some time, with future Hall of Famers, All-Stars, and a strong culture, exactly the kind of environment he wants to be part of. His decision also signals that the Bucks shifted direction, as roster changes and cap constraints prevented them from keeping the core intact. Still, Lopez brings no regrets to LA and carries a clear mission. He said the money is nice, but that's not what drives him. 'I love playing, I love winning, and these guys are all about that. So, it's a perfect fit.' For Lopez, it's not just a new chapter, it's a homecoming with championship goals. Amid a high-stakes NBA Free Agency period, the Clippers have built a deep, veteran-loaded roster that just might have the pieces to finally bring home their first NBA title Related: NBA rumors: How LeBron James' situation drove Brook Lopez from Lakers to Clippers Related: Siegel's Scoop: Why Bradley Beal, Jonathan Kuminga headline NBA Summer League intel
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chris Paul pens emotional goodbye to Spurs as he returns to Clippers
The post Chris Paul pens emotional goodbye to Spurs as he returns to Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints. In a summer filled with feel-good stories across the NBA, Chris Paul's decision to leave the San Antonio Spurs to play out his (likely) final season with the Los Angeles Clippers might just be the best one. Though Paul didn't begin his career in LA, instead being traded to the organization after then-Commissioner David Stern vetoed a move to the Lakers, he played a big part in turning the squad into Lob City, an entertaining squad that routinely headlined clip shows thanks to the dunking abilities of DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. And yet, just because Paul will soon be wearing the red, white, and blue once more, earning a locker room at the new Intuit Dome as his home base, instead of as a visitor, doesn't mean he's over the moon to leave San Antonio. No, on Monday, CP3 took some time to thank the team for bringing him to town, wishing them the best moving forward. 'Grateful for the journey. Thank you to the San Antonio Spurs organization, Coach Pop, Coach Mitch, my teammates, the coaching staff, and the incredible fans for welcoming me this past season,' CP3 wrote. 'Proud to have been part of a franchise with such rich history and bright future. Nothing but love for the 2-1-0.' Now, as Paul noted, the Spurs really do have a bright future in front of them, with Victor Wembenyama having officially been cleared to return to on-court basketball duties and a number of exciting young players like Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant joining up for rookie action. With that being said, if Paul was going to run out his NBA career with one final season, there isn't a better place for his farwell tour than Los Angeles, as in the annals of NBA history, CP3 will forever be a Clipper, with his run in San Antonio a fun detour between his two stints in Tinseltown. Related: San Antonio Spurs' perfect move in 2025 NBA offseason Related: Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert face off in different kind of battle
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'CP3' lives on as Bradley Beal agrees to give No. 3 jersey to new Clippers teammate Chris Paul
Chris Paul won't have to worry about choosing a number next season as he makes his return to the Los Angeles Clippers. New teammate Bradley Beal has opened the door for "CP3" to continue in what could very well be the veteran's final NBA season.. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said Tuesday that Beal, who has worn No. 3 his entire career, offered up the number to Paul, who has also worn No. 3 over his 20 years in the league. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] "Once Brad heard that it was a possibility that Chris was coming, he said, 'I want to give him my number.' And I don't even think Chris knows this yet," Frank said. "So it's awesome that Brad made such a great gesture like that." A similar gesture was made last season when Paul played for the San Antonio Spurs. Forward Keldon Johnson gave up the No. 3 after Paul signed a one-year deal last summer. The 40-year-old Paul, a future Hall of Famer, also wore the No. 3 while at Wake Forest. He's played for seven franchises with 1,354 games played and more than 23,000 points scored. He is a 12-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA First Teamer, seven-time All-Defensive First Teamer and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team, among numerous other honors. Paul played for the Clippers from 2011-2017 and is the franchise's leader in assists and steals per game. He will be in a bench role this time around in LA, but can still be productive. He's coming off a 2024-25 season where he played 82 games and averaged 8.8 points, 7.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. 'Chris was the best guy for the job as long as we all understand what the role is,' Frank said. 'There will be nights Chris plays a lot and there will be nights he does not.'
