The Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the most inconsistent teams in the NBA, despite the presence of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. In actuality, the Clippers have grossly underachieved despite having Leonard and George, as they only managed to make the Western Conference Finals in the 2021 season. Not winning a championship or even making the NBA Finals once with this superstar core is completely unacceptable, and they are starting to get flamed for it. So far, the Clippers are stuck with a playoff spot but should be at least 10 games above .500, considering the talent they have.
Interestingly enough, the stars have shown up on paper when healthy. Kawhi has been decent by averaging 23.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 1.4 APG on 50.9% FG, 41.3% 3-PT FG, and 86.6% FT. George has also done well by posting 23.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 5.2 APG while Norman Powell has been one of the best 6th men in the NBA by averaging 16.6 PPG on 47.5% FG and 41.0% from three. This Big Three has been solid all year, and they have been bolstered by solid role players including Robert Covington, Ivica Zubac, and Terance Mann while newcomers including Russell Westbrook, Mason Plumlee, and Eric Gordon should be even more help.
But health has been a factor so far, with Kawhi appearing in only 38 games so far and not being the leader the team needs. Anytime a superstar player is not available and is consistently dealing with “load management” issues, it takes a massive toll on team chemistry, and that is what we have been seeing. Not to mention, there are a couple of other questions about this team. Can Paul George be good enough to make an NBA Finals for the first time in his career? Does Russell Westbrook truly have a place or is he more damaging as an inefficient point guard than he is as a triple-double threat?
Perhaps most importantly, what does the Clippers’ future currently look like? Clippers fans are basically waiting for Kawhi and George to be healthy for the remainder of the season with the hopes of a late championship surge. But what does the 2024 season look like from now?
Rather, how does the Clippers’ salary cap stand after the team brought in newcomers and has Leonard and George making over $45 million next year? Amazingly, the Clippers have the second-highest payroll in the NBA next year behind the Golden State Warriors who have four players on heavy deals. It is time to look at the Los Angeles Clippers’ salary cap situation in the 2023-24 season and deduce how they can plan their attack to win a championship next year. Similar to what we did when we analyzed the Golden State Warriors salary cap in 2024, the Los Angeles Clippers situation could be a little bit more complex. By utilizing a mix of attracting free agents, re-signing talented players, and letting some others go, here is how title-contending Clippers can plan their 2024 NBA season.
Clippers Players Under Salaries:
Kawhi Leonard – $45,640,084
Paul George – $45,640,084
Norman Powell – $18,000,000
Marcus Morris – $17,116,279
Nicolas Batum – $11,710,818
Robert Covington – $11,692,308
Ivica Zubac – $10,933,333
Terance Mann – $10,576,923
Amir Coffey – $3,666,667
Bones Hyland – $2,306,400
Jason Preston – $1,836,096
BJ Boston – $1,836,096
Obviously, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are the headliners as they each have a contract in 2024 and are getting paid over $48 million in the 2025 season if they each exercise their player options. It is very likely that both stars are untouchable unless a top-10 player in the world somehow becomes available and in that case, George could be moved. Otherwise, Leonard and George will be Clippers players next season and when healthy and playing at least 65 games each, they might be the best defensive duo in the NBA because their length, experience, and size are undeniably great. So far, we haven’t seen enough of what they can really do, and that has been a disappointment.
It is very possible that Leonard starts looking elsewhere if the Clippers do not win it next season, as he is a player who moves of his own accord and does not give any indication of what his plans are. Remember, this is the same guy that was supposed to be a Lakers player and instead shocked the world and joined the Clippers before the 2020 season. If the Clippers fail this season and do not make the Finals next year, Leonard could start fishing for a new destination and decline his player option to sign another long-term max deal. Of course, if Leonard leaves, it is almost certain George could leave. It is essential that Los Angeles start making noise in the West this season, or it could be bad news for the Clippers’ future. No doubt, all eyes are on what Steve Ballmer and the Clippers organization do in convincing Leonard and George to stay put.
Other Clippers players under contract include 6th man star Norman Powell, who will be a long-term figure for the franchise. Powell is getting paid until the 2026 season at over $18 million per season. If Leonard and Geroge stay, Powell is nowhere near a bad third option. The next highest-paid players, Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, and Robert Covington, are all key role players but will be free agents after the 2024 season. Covington is the best of the bunch due to his two-way play in terms of shooting and defense, while Morris can hit timely shots and Batum just plays hard. The three of them can be brought back on team-friendlier deals if Leonard and George commit long-term.
Zubac, Mann, and Coffey are all long-term pieces because they are all young and have time to improve as two-way players. Zubac can rebound, defend, and roll to the rim consistently as a 7-footer at 25 years old. Mann is 26 years old and can also compete as a two-way guard, while Coffey is a solid bench player. Hyland, Preston, and Boston are all decent bench players who will be under contract in 2024 and Hyland has a team option in 2025. Expect Hyland to be back because he brings a ton of energy and shooting to a team that could use both.
Overall, the money is tied up for the three best players on the team, while role players such as Morris, Covington, Batum, and Zubac are making decent money as well. It is clear what the Clippers’ core is made up of, and they are going all-in with a host of two-way players that are very talented.
Team Options
Eric Gordon $20,917,902
Moussa Diabate – $1,761,752
Los Angeles also has two players with team options attached to them, meaning the Clippers have a little bit of flexibility in the 2024 season, although not much. Eric Gordon is one of the most experienced two-way players in the NBA, and even if he is aging and lost most of his scoring skills, he can still play hard and make shots. Gordon was brought over from Houston before the trade deadline to add experience and two-way play, and the Clippers would only do that if they wanted to bring him back. Perhaps the team won’t pay $20 million and accept the team option, but they might bring him back on a longer-term deal.
Moussa Diabate is on minimal money and whether the Clippers bring them back or not is up to how the Clippers fill their bench before next season. Gordon is the best player on a team option, and it would be smarter for Los Angeles to bring him back on a longer-term deal that will end up paying Gordon more than the $20 million he earns next year.
Free Agents
Russell Westbrook
Mason Plumlee
Xavier Moon
Keaton Wallace
Nate Darling
Moses Brown
There are also important players for the Clippers in 2024 who are all free agents. Russell Westbrook was signed after the point guard was traded by the Lakers and cut by the Utah Jazz, and it remains to be seen if he comes back to a title contender like the Clippers. So far, Russ has been decent (averaging 16.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 8.8 APG) but he is shooting 31.3% from three and also averaging over 4 turnovers per game. What Los Angeles does with Westbrook depends on how good the point guard will be for the remainder of the season in terms of influencing team record.
Mason Plumlee was brought in before the trade deadline and is one of the better bench players when it comes to rebounding and deafening the rim. Plumlee can be brought back on a team-friendly deal if he accepts being a backup to Ivica Zubac, and depth is something the Clippers have specialized in so far. The rest of the bench, Xavier Moon, Keaton Wallace, Nate Darling, and Moses Brown, are all there to fill out the bench, and most of them might not come back. A title contender like the Clippers will go all-in next year.
Clippers Currently Have $158 Million For Salaries In 2023-24 Season
The Los Angeles Clippers have a total of approximately $158 million in salaries for the 2023-2024 season that is fixed. That is a very high number considering that there are only two superstars that are getting paid most of the money and will be the championship core going forward. Of course, the number of $158 million could get over $180 million if they bring Eric Gordon back at his team option salary, which would not make much sense for the team since Gordon is 34 years old and past his best.
It is important to note that the salary cap for the NBA season will likely rise to $134 million and $162 million on a tax level, which is record-breaking. With this amount of extra money being afforded to the Clippers, the flexibility for the Clippers to move on from some key players to build around Kawhi and George. The future of the franchise relies completely on the superstar players because they can either make or break title contention. Steve Ballmer and the Clippers organization want both stars back for the long term and must win as soon as possible. Making the Finals, at least this year or next year would probably keep Leonard and George on board. Otherwise, it could be time for them to leave.
Furthermore, the Clippers have a ton of money tied up in key role players, including Norman Powell ($18,000,000), Marcus Morris ($17,116,279), Nicolas Batum ($11,710,818), Robert Covington ($11,692,308), Ivica Zubac ($10,933,333), and Terance Mann ($10,576,923). That is a lot of money tied up in pivotal players, which means they won’t likely be traded unless the Clippers somehow can pull off a trade for another star player. It seems like the Clippers will run it back with this core group, with Powell proving to be the third option on the team. Now, onto the free agents.
It will be very interesting to see what the Clippers do with Russell Westbrook. If the point guard wants to come back, he won’t receive anywhere near the max level, and he could accept a mid-level exception if he has no other offers on the table. Expect teams such as the Miami Heat to be interested if the Clippers do not want him back, so making the most money makes the most sense for the former MVP. At the same time, what Los Angeles does with Eric Gordon is key because the player was brought in before the trade deadline and was expected to be a long-term piece.
The Clippers have less flexibility than most thought entering the 2024 season, even thanks to an increase in the salary cap. It is up to the Clippers to maneuver well in the market and try to convince Gordon and/or Westbrook to come back at team-friendly deals. Of course, the team can at least as they can for the top stars while bringing back as much as they can on minimum deals. Los Angeles’s season is not over, because they are in a playoff spot, but they likely won’t win a championship without consistency all season long. The 2024 season is in place with Leonard, George, Powell, and key role players under contract. After the 2024 season, things could get very interesting because if Leonard and George leave, it is game over for the franchise. Maintaining chemistry, keeping Leonard healthy, and motivating the players to win it all is key for this season and next season because, as it stands, the core is intact.
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