With the NBA season now less than a month away, the Los Angeles Clippers will soon be able to tell if their bevy of offseason moves will help strengthen and catapult them into being Western Conference contenders.
While small forward Kawhi Leonard and shooting guard James Harden are the stars of the show in Los Angeles, the Clippers will look for other guys to be big contributors in their roles. Here are three who particularly need to step up this season.
Guard Bradley Beal
Filling the void left by the departure of guard Norman Powell, Bradley Beal has the chance to quickly step in as the starting shooting guard. A three-time NBA All-Star, the veteran is familiar with finding ways to score in different spots, which will add much-needed scoring depth for Los Angeles this year.
Beal’s most recent tenure with the Phoenix Suns did not go as expected, as he found himself coming off the bench more often than people expected. He’ll be looking to bounce back and make an immediate impact for Los Angeles in a position where the Clippers have struggled..
Being limited to just 53 combined games during both of his seasons in Phoenix, if Beal can stay healthy, he will be a productive piece for the Clippers’ lineup.
The Clippers signed Beal to a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option this past offseason.
Center Brook Lopez
In another quality pickup this offseason, the Clippers signed center Brook Lopez on a two-year, $18 million contract. Lopez comes over to Los Angeles after seven seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks to back up Clippers’ starting center Ivica Zubac, filling yet another one of the team’s biggest holes.
A veteran in the locker room, Lopez has shown that he can provide solid three-point shooting and good rim protection. Additionally, he sets up screens well and has a solid presence in the paint. If the Clippers want to achieve their goals this season, they’ll need quality minutes off the bench, and that all starts with Lopez’s ability to provide production when he’s on the floor.
Lopez averaged 13 points and five rebounds per game with the Bucks in the 2024-25 season.
Forward John Collins
A player the Clippers hope will be a solid addition to the lineup, John Collins comes to Los Angeles via a three-way trade with the Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz. The Clippers traded away Powell for Collins, whose versatility and athleticism will help make him a contributor on both ends of the court this season.
Collins is an acquisition that provides the frontcourt help that the Clippers were looking for. Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard has struggled to stay healthy in recent years, and while he’s excelled offensively, his defense has left a lot to be desired. Ideally, Collins will be able to address these problems for Los Angeles and actively contribute on defense.
The Clippers’ defense is looking to build on the big jump they made last season, ranking third in the NBA after finishing 16th the prior season.
Los Angeles has been a team on the verge of hoisting its first title in franchise history, but disappointing playoff exits in recent years have plagued the team. If certain players — like Beal, Lopez and Collins — can step up this year and play a bigger role for the Clippers, Los Angeles may not be far from finally getting what they’ve been seeking since their founding.
The Clippers will take on the Denver Nuggets in their first preseason game on Oct. 12. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Intuit Dome.