The LA Clippers have recently appeared in the news for all the wrong reasons. 

From a well-known NBA Insider’s point of view, the organization is in complete disarray entering the regular season. 

“If you were hoping the end of the preseason would bring clarity on Kawhi Leonard’s timeline for return, well, you should probably know better by now,” Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale wrote Friday. “The 33-year-old was preemptively shut down for the LA Clippers’ exhibition slate and still isn’t practicing with the team as he recovers from what we’re (essentially) left to assume is continued right knee inflammation.

“Navigating the Western Conference without Kawhi playing in a majority of games is never a reality for which the Clippers were ready. They are even less prepared with Paul George in Philadelphia. A 35-year-old James Harden is now the lifeblood of their offense—and, potentially, their entire team.

“What already forecasted as a confusing, awkward and verging on futile season for the Clippers is quickly devolving into something that seems much, much, muuuuch worse. Perhaps this winds up being a captive-of-the-moment overreaction. But given Leonard’s laundry list of past knee issues, it’s tough to view what’s happening right now as anything other than a precursor to a doomy and gloomy 2024-25 season.”

The franchise’s ceiling plummeted after they traded George to the Philadelphia 76ers in July. Sure, Harden is a valuable offensive weapon on the perimeter, but he’s no longer the 2017-20 30+ points per game scorer who regularly torched defenders with his wicked double step-back move. 

Leonard missed four of the Clippers’ six 2024 postseason clashes due to right knee inflammation. Still, the organization was hopeful the six-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion would appear in at least one 2024 preseason contest.

Unfortunately, Leonard failed to suit up for Los Angeles in early to mid-October, and a recent report suggests the Clippers could be without the two-time Defensive Player of the Year for a good portion of the regular season. 

“LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard to be sidelined for indefinite period of time to start the NBA season as he rehabilitates the inflammation in his right knee,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.

Can the Clippers sneak into the playoffs with Harden leading the way offensively? Perhaps, but regarding a deep postseason run, Los Angeles doesn’t have the pieces or superstar availability required to thrive in the playoffs.

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