Let’s take a look at the Los Angeles Clippers 2023-2024 Season Recap/Review. For the 2023-2024 season, the Clippers had another early round playoff exit. They had a regular season record of 51 wins (50+ wins for the first time since 2016) - 31 losses, finishing the season in 4th place in the Western Conference (1st in the Pacific Division, first time since 2014). They went 25-16 at home and 26-15 on the road. They averaged 115.6 point per game and allowed 112.3 (4th in West) point per game. With that record, they finished the season in 4th place and played the Dallas Mavericks in the 1st round of the NBA Playoffs. Unfortunately, they were eliminated by the Mavericks 4-2, after beating the Mavericks the previous 2 playoff matchups. In the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament, Clippers were not good, going 1-3, finishing last in their group and not advancing to next stage. A team who looked like they were going to win it all mid-season and had Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook only to lose in the 1st round. To be fair, Kawhi was injured but how many times was this was the excuse? Let's take a 2023-2024 season review on the LA Clippers.
Head Coach: Tyronn Lue (4th year)
General Manager: Trent Redden (1st year)
President: Lawrence Frank (7th year)
Clippers roster review:
The Clippers rolled with 21 different players playing this season for them.
GUARDS -
The Guards for the Clippers were pretty solid for the regular season but at the same time were inconsistent. They would have good games and bad games and were a bit absent in the playoffs. Lets take a took to see who served as Guards:
First, James Harden served as the Clippers primary Point Guard. He did not start the season with the Clippers. Harden was traded to the Clippers on November 1, 4 games into the season and made his Clipper debut November 6. Clippers acquired Harden, P. J. Tucker, and Filip Petrušev from the 76ers in exchange for Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Kenyon Martin Jr. and Robert Covington. Clippers were 0-5 in Harden's first 5 games but things started to pick up and go very well for the Clippers. Unfortunately as we already know, it did not end well. In 72 games this season with the Clippers, Harden started all 72, averaged 16.6 PPG, 8.5 AST per game (4th in NBA), 5.1 REB per game, 1.1 STL per game, 2.6 Turnovers per game, 34.3 Minutes per game, shot 38.1% from three, 42.8 FG% overall. Not bad for a 34 year old on a stacked team. He also was a nice passer and helped make players like Zubac look good. In the postseason, Harden averaged 21.2 PPG, 8.0 AST per game, 4.5 REB per game, 40.3 Minutes per game, shot 38.3% from three, 44.9 FG% overall. In the first 4 playoff games, he was pretty nice but in the final 2 it was almost like he was not there. This off-season he will be a free agent.
Terance Mann started most of the season at shooting guard. He started 71 of 75 games. Mann was not the best shooting guard but was the best option as Norm Powell was better for the bench. Mann's role as a starter was more as a defensive player and role player who is versatile. In 75 games this season, he averaged 8.8 PPG, 1.6 AST per game, 3.4 REB per game, 0.6 STL per game, 0.6 Turnovers per game, 25.0 Minutes per game, shot 34.8% from three, 51.5 FG% overall. In the postseason, he was similar averaging 9.3 PPG, 1.8 AST per game, 5.0 REB per game, 31.2 Minutes per game, shot 45.5% from three, 41.3 FG% overall. Mann was not the best in the postseason but I would say he was not really to blame.
Norman Powell completed his 3rd season with the Clippers as a Shooting Guard off the bench. He was the Clippers sixth man. Powell had one of his worst years as a Clippers this season but the team was pretty stacked so that's understandable. In 76 games this season (starting 3), Powell averaged 13.9 PPG, 1.1 AST per game, 2.6 REB per game, 0.9 Turnovers per game, 26.2 Minutes per game, shot 43.5% from three (5th in NBA), 48.6 FG% overall. Really nice for a bench player. In the postseason, he didn't really wake up until Game 3 but it still wasn't anything special. He averaged 12.8 PPG, 0.3 AST per game, 2.8 REB per game, 29.8 Minutes per game, shot 44.8% from three, 42.6 FG% overall. One of the most memorable things of Powell was him getting a scar on his forehead that looked like 21 Savage's tattoo.
Russell Westbrook completed his 2nd year as a Clipper. He missed more than 3 weeks due to a hand injury. Westbrook was a nice player off the bench for the Clippers during the regular season. In just 68 games this season (starting 11), he averaged 11.1 PPG, 4.5 AST per game, 5.0 REB per game, 1.1 STL per game, 2.1 Turnovers per game, 22.5 Minutes per game, shot 27.3% from three, 45.4 FG% overall. Not bad for a 35 year old off the bench. In the postseason, however, Westbrook was pretty useless. He drew stupid fouls and was even ejected. He averaged 6.3 PPG, 1.7 AST per game, 4.2 REB per game, 19.0 Minutes per game, shot 23.5% from three, 26.0 FG% overall. Pretty bad. Westbrook has a 2024-25 Player Option (deadline 6/29/24).
Amir Coffey completed 5th year for the Clippers as an undrafted player. He was a solid role player. In 70 games this season (starting 13), Coffey averaged 6.6 PPG, 1.1 AST per game, 2.1 REB per game, 0.5 Turnovers per game, 20.9 Minutes per game, shot 38.0% from three, 47.2 FG% overall. In the postseason, he was didn't do much averaging 2.8 PPG, 0.3 AST per game, 1.7 REB per game, 18.7 Minutes per game, shot 27.3% from three, 31.8 FG% overall.
Bones Hyland completed his 2nd year as a Clipper. I thought he would have a bigger role this season but did not. In 37 games this season with the Clippers (starting 5), he averaged 6.9 PPG, 2.5 AST per game, 1.5 REB per game, 1.2 Turnovers per game, 14.6 Minutes per game, shot 32.6% from three, 38.6 FG% overall. In the postseason, he saw a few minutes and only played 3 game. He scored in only 1 game scoring 11 points in the Clippers blowout loss.
Kobe Brown was the Clippers first round pick last year. He is considered a Guard/Forward but will put him in the Guard column. Brown did see some time but did not doo much. In 44 games this season with the Clippers, he averaged 2.0 PPG, 0.6 AST per game, 1.4 REB per game, 0.2 Turnovers per game, 9.0 Minutes per game, shot 29.2% from three, 41.6 FG% overall. In the postseason, he played 3 games and only 10 total minutes scoring no points. Hopefully, Brown will have a bigger role for the Clippers in the future.
Brandon Boston Jr. completed his 3rd year with the Clippers. Boston was another player I thought could have a bigger role but did not. In 32 games this season with the Clippers, he averaged 5.2 PPG, 0.4 AST per game, 1.6 REB per game, 0.8 Turnovers per game, 10.8 Minutes per game, shot 26.9% from three, 40.4 FG% overall. In the postseason, he played 10 total minutes score 5 total points.
Xavier Moon saw some time with the Clippers this season on a 2-way contract. In 14 games this season with the Clippers (starting 1), he averaged 2.4 PPG, 1.5 AST per game, 1.3 REB per game, 0.4 Turnovers per game, 8.5 Minutes per game, shot 11.8% from three, 32.6 FG% overall. He did not play in the playoffs.
Jordan Miller was the Clippers 2nd round pick last year. He saw some time. He played 8 games total averaging 1.6 points per game. In 2 games he scored only 2 points.
Joshua Primo signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers that later turned into a standard deal. However, he only played 2 games with the Clippers before being waived on April 13.
FORWARDS -
This position was primarily just Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. There were obvoiusly other forwards but not as good as them.
First off, Kawhi Leonard completed his 5th year with the Clippers but only played 4 years due to being injured 1 year. Although Kawhi had a very nice regular season, he had yet another season-ending injury in the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row. Very frustrating for him and the Clipper fans. His injury was the primary reason to the 1st round playoff exit and we didn't get to see the Clippers in playoffs at full strength. Disappointing. In the regular season, Kawhi played 68 games starting all 68, his Clipper career season high. Kawhi averaged 23.7 PPG, 3.6 AST per game, 6.1 REB per game, 1.6 STL per game (5th in NBA), 1.8 Turnovers per game, 34.3 Minutes per game, shot 41.7% from three (17th in NBA), 52.5 FG% overall. Really nice regular season that earned him a 2024 NBA All-Star spot, his 6th of his career. But towards the end of the season, Kawhi dealt with inflammation in his right knee that caused him to miss the final 8 games of the season. In the postseason, he tried to come back but the knee still bothered him. He played just 2 games in the playoffs averaging 12.0 PPG, 2.0 AST per game, 8.0 REB per game, 29.5 Minutes per game, made no threes, and had a 45.8 FG% overall. Very disappointing.
Paul George completed his 5th year as a Clipper. Like Kawhi, he was also surprisingly more healthy than usually except George played more and played every game in the playoffs. In the regular season, George played 74 games starting all 74, also his Clipper career season high. George averaged 22.6 PPG, 3.5 AST per game, 5.2 REB per game, 1.5 STL per game (6th in NBA), 2.1 Turnovers per game, 33.8 Minutes per game, shot 41.3% from three, 47.1 FG% overall. Nice regular season that earned him a 2024 NBA All-Star spot, his 9th of his career. In the postseason, he was very inconsistent and had only 3 good games, 3 bad ones. Even though Kawhi was out, he failed to step up. George averaged 19.5 PPG, 4.8 AST per game, 6.8 REB per game, 37.0 Minutes per game, shot 36.7% from three,, and had a 41.1 FG% overall. There's a chance George may be a free agent this off-season as he has a 2024-2025 Player Option (deadline 6/29/2024). Wouldn't be surprised he goes.
P. J. Tucker was traded with James Harden to the Clippers. Tucker was a pretty disappointing acquisition. He had multiple 0 point games and sat out many games due to poor performance. In 28 games this season with the Clippers (starting 7), Tucker averaged 1.6 PPG, 0.6 AST per game, 2.5 REB per game, 15.0 Minutes per game, shot 36.7% from three, 35.6 FG% overall. Awful. In the postseason, he played just 2 games scoring 11 points total. Tucker has a 2024-25 Player Option (deadline 6/29/24) but I can't imagine he stays with Clippers.
Moussa Diabaté saw some time with the Clippers on a 2-way contract. In 11 games, he averaged 2.6 PPG, 0.4 AST per game, 2.2 REB per game, 5.8 Minutes per game, shot 52.6 FG% overall.
Nicolas Batum started the year with the Clippers before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. This hurt trading Batum. In 3 games with the Clippers, he averaged 2.7 PPG, 0.7 AST per game, 3.4 REB per game, 23.0 Minutes per game, shot 25.0% from three, shot 33.3 FG% overall.
Robert Covington started the year with the Clippers before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. In 3 games with the Clippers starting 3, he averaged 3.0 PPG, 2.2 AST per game, 4.2 REB per game, 18.0 Minutes per game, shot 28.6% from three, shot 37.5 FG% overall.
Kenyon Martin Jr. saw 2 games with the Clippers before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2 games, he averaged 5.0 PPG, 0.5 AST per game, 1.5 REB per game, 15.5 Minutes per game, shot 20% from three, shot 40.0 FG% overall.
Marcus Morris Sr. did not play with the Clippers this season but was part of the Harden deal. Morris played 4 seasons with the Clippers.
CENTERS -
The Center position was nice for the Clippers but not the best. I felt like they can get someone better.
First off, Ivica Zubac served as the Clippers primary Center for most of the season. Zubac finished up his 6th season as a Clipper. He had a calf injury that caused him to miss 14 games. But when he did play, Zubac was solid and Harden helped him a lot. This season in 68 games starting all 68, Zubac averaged 11.7 PPG (career high), 1.4 AST per game, 9.2 REB per game (16th in NBA), 1.2 BLK per game (13th in NBA), 1.2 Turnovers per game, 26.4 Minutes per game, shot 64.9 FG% overall (3rd in NBA). I feel like he should have played more but who am I to say. In the postseason, he was pretty nice averaging 16.2 PPG, 1.0 AST per game, 9.3 REB per game, 32.0 Minutes per game, 0.5 BLK per game, 60.0 FG% overall. Nice season.
Daniel Theis completed his first year as a Clipper. Theis was signed by the Clippers 10 games into the season when Plumlee went down with an injury. Theis came off the bench primarily as the backup Center and was pretty nice. Theis played 59 games for the Clippers starting 3. He averaged 6.3 PPG, 1.0 AST per game, 4.1 REB per game, 0.7 Turnovers per game, 17.1 Minutes per game, shot 37.1% from three, 53.6 FG% overall. In the playoffs, he played 1 game scoring 3 points. He'll be a free agent.
Mason Plumlee completed his 2nd year as a Clipper and one of the backups. He was the primary backup until he got injured suffering an MCL sprain. This caused him to miss about 2 months. Plumlee played 46 games for the Clippers starting 11. He averaged 5.3 PPG, 1.2 AST per game, 5.1 REB per game, 0.8 Turnovers per game, 14.7 Minutes per game, shot 56.9 FG% overall. In the playoffs, He averaged 3.2 PPG, 0.7 AST per game, 3.3 REB per game, 0.3 Turnovers per game, 11.0 Minutes per game, shot 38.9 FG% overall. He'll be a free agent.
Kai Jones was a late season acquistion signing with the Clippers on April 14. He did not play any games with the Clippers though.
So, that's everybody who played at least 1 game for the Clippers this season. The roster looked very good and played very good but with Kawhi's injury, we never got to see its best potential in the playoffs. At some point in the regular season, Clippers were 1st in the West but ended the season 4th. The Clippers team is solid right now with the players they have, they just need to stay healthy or find another star. They started off the season very slow with a losing record but once they found who they are they went off and everyone thought it was their year but it wasn't.
The Clippers roster for next season is very uncertain as some big players have the opportunity to leave this offseason. The offseason will be very interesting for the Clippers.
Clippers players who can leave this summer:
Paul George (Player Option to stay)
James Harden (Unrestricted FA)
Russell Westbrook (Player Option to stay)
Mason Plumlee (Unrestricted FA)
Daniel Theis (Unrestricted FA)
P.J. Tucker (Player Option to stay)
Brandon Boston, Jr. (Restricted FA)
Moussa Diabate (Restricted FA)
Xavier Moon (Restricted FA)
Kai Jones (Team option)
What is next for the Clippers?
Well, it depends if Paul George and James Harden walks or if the Clippers make a major trade. Ty Lue is expected to stay as Lawrence Frank really likes him but we'll see. This was also the Clippers' final season at the Crypto.com Arena, as the team will move to the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California with a brand new logo starting in the 2024–25 season. Perhaps this will break their "curse" and they'll finally win a championship? If Paul George goes, this will be a massive change to the roster as he was part of their Big 3. But it will also open up about $48 million of cap space to sign a star. If James Harden and/or Russell Westbrook goes, the Clippers will be in need of a new Point Guard. The decision on {aul George will come in late June. In July, Free Agency will begin and by then we should know the direction the Clippers will take. One thing for sure is that they need to make some change next season as this season was another failure. But now Clippers will have a new stadium and new logo, a new start and maybe a newer team?
So there you have it. That's a quick recap of the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2023-2024 season. See you next season!
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