Can The NBA Clippers Stay Healthy and Win It All?
Steve Ballmer, the owner of this talented team has invested tons of dollars to have a championship-caliber team, but every season is the same story, its two NBA superstars have lost in 7 seasons, 224 games. The NBA playoff run also has been affected as there two superstars, have difficulties being healthy and playing together, last season they were eliminated in the Opening round by the Phoenix Suns, for the campaign 2020-21, was their best chance to make it to the Finales (remember this franchise has never won a Championship ring) losing in six games again to the Suns. If these superstars are healthy the team improvement will certainly affect the NBA Lines, this upcoming season.
Kawhi Leonard
The eleven-year veteran, who will make $45,640,084 the next campaign, played only 52 games, averaged 23,8 ppg, and was shooting very well, 51,2 FG%, he is still in his prime at 32 years old, with a four-year contract worth $176,265,152, has a player option for 2024-25 and will be a Unrestricted Free Agent in 2025. If he is healthy could be in the top ten best players of the league.
Paul George
Also, a veteran 35 years old, has the same contract as Leonard, will also be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2025, played just four games more than his teammate Leonard, shot for 23,8 ppg same numbers as Kawhi, and for 45,7 FG%. Despite losing so many games, even important games as the playoffs, this team year after year reaches the playoffs, well coached by Tyronn Lee, but with the injuries on their key players the options are reduced and they also are getting older, so the time is now to capture that first ring for this franchise.
Who have the Clippers signed?
- Russell Westbrook to a two-year, $7,86 million contract, PG
- Mason Plumlee to one-year, $5 million contract, C
- Trade two future second-round picks for Kenyon Martin Jr., SG
Re-signing Westbrook was a major goal this summer, after coming from the Lakers in mid-season, the veteran provided experience and let the young core, what the absence of Leonard and George. Fitted just well in the LA Clippers system, played 21 games, and averaged 15,8 points, 7,6 assists, and 4,9 rebounds, clearly affecting NBA Odds for the Clippers.
Mason Plumlee
The center who arrived from the Hornets last season, played 23 games with Los Angeles, his points dropped almost half 7,5 with the Clippers, compared with 12,2 with the Hornets. Will come off the bench to replace Ivica Zubac.
But the best addition will be Kenyon Martin Jr., a young player 24 years old, coming from the Rockets, who play Small Forward and participated in all 82 games, with 12,7 ppg.
New Arena For The Clippers
The new arena will open for the season 2024-2025, and will be named Intuit Dome a $1,2 billion arena, located at the southeast corner of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue, will have a seating capacity for 18,000 fans. It also will have a 150-room hotel and parking for 4,125 vehicles.
The Clippers currently play at Staples Center, also the home of the Lakers and the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings. Steve Ballmer had been thinking years ago and formally unveiled the project in 2019, stating that his team would be breaking ground in 2021 and opening in 2024.
This team which has not had its own home, since it played in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, has been sharing with the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Kings at Crypto.com Arena.
The upcoming new arena, will not only house games but also provide a complete sporting infrastructure. Alongside a state-of-the-art arena, it will feature a practice facility, sports medicine facilities, team offices, retail spaces, and an expansive outdoor plaza with public-access basketball courts.
A 23-year naming rights deal was announced with financial software company Intuit Dome.