Does that mean an end to Harkless’ run with the Clippers? No way to keep both Kai and Moussa? I think with PJ still on the roster, the standard roster is full at 15, although I know they can carry more in training camp.

I think Zu in particular can take another step forward, especially in the scoring department. He should be just getting into his prime athleticism. I think if featured and especially another year along side Harden, we could see Zu step into that ELITE role player status. 15-10 on a night to night basis should be floor for Zu.

I feel like we haven’t seen these guys be the elite role players needed for a championship. When you look at the “star role players” of like the Celtics, I feel like the Clippers guys are still a tier below that. I remember hoping the Clips would’ve just taken Porzingis in that Brogdon deal. Jrue Holiday is probably more “star” than he his a role player, but he was much less used offensively in the Celtics system so I think gets grouped with their other role players.

While I think the Clippers role players have been good, I think their depth in like 2022 was overrated. They had like 12 guys that could be in a top 10 rotation on a championship contender, but lacked the 3 guys that are just below the star tier that would be needed to really be a contender.

The Clips have three “role players” who are just short of being stars, in my view. They all have significant upside with PG and his usage and approach now gone. Westbrook’s absence will also have a major impact.

Start with Zu. In the PG/wing-heavy era, and with Ty Lue’s small ball penchant, Zu’s growth and usage were limited, to a degree. Harden’s arrival unlocked Zu, and we can expect to see him go to a higher level next season. It was Zu’s (rare, if not unprecedented) injury that first slowed the Clipper Dec-Jan juggernaut. He can be more than a role player, and will do even better if other defenders (DJJ, Batum) are helping him.

I feel like people aren’t giving Norm Powell enough credit and interest. I myself thought he was disposable in the Harden trade, and was surprised when Batum left instead (and now Batum is back!). But I was really glad that Norm was still a Clipper. He thinks he should be a starter (and even an All-star), and he’s going to try to get the open Paul George spot. We all know his weaknesses, but he’s really productive, and there’s a chance he could sniff “star” status.

Lastly there’s Terance Mann. We all love him (or at least it seems like the majority of us do) for a reason. He finally had a real opportunity to step up last year, getting 71 starts, but he continued to be hesitant and deferential, defending, rebounding and aware of himself as a fifth option. Both PG and Westbrook took up significant usage, which will fall to him now. And let’s not forget that he was tweaked/injured at the beginning of the season, starting more than slowly. There’s a very big opportunity for T Mann going into this season–and we’ll see what he makes of it.

I’m not hating on PG, but his tenure and how it ended were quite disappointing, and I’m happy to see him go. Maybe he’s a better fit on Philly, he gets a big Maxey benefit, and expectations are lower. I won’t be rooting for him, that’s for sure, and maybe I’m expecting him to fail–just like everybody expects the Clippers to fail and make terrible moves. But they did the right thing, no doubt, and have made some really solid moves and will compete and play hard.

And yes, it’d be good to have the in-depth breakdown at some point.

I see where he has his “front office hat” on again. Reggie Jackson to Philly.

George is an opera diva without a voice. I just watched 2 videos. One of PatBev talking about George and the 2nd was Booker verbally going after George. Both were uncomplimentary to George.

I am happy that he is gone. Honestly, he won’t be missed by the Clippers.

Sure, I appreciate when PG played great for us, but there are many good NBA players that have worn the Clippers uniform that I would cheer: Lou Will, Jamal Crawford, Reggie Jackson, even CP3.

“could be” replaced by 2 different role players? maybe, but there is no realistic way to get 2 players to take the place of one on the floor, which is what makes him a “star”. But I think there’s levels to being a star, and when he came, he was billed as an MVP candidate, top 10 guy in the league, who was an elite playoff performer.

I’m just surprised his PER in the playoffs has been so “average”. 14.7 in 2020, 20.0 in 2021, and 16.1 2024. Even that 2021 value is carried by the series with Utah. Shot under 30% for 3 in the other two series. By comparison, Kawhi in the playoffs, PER of 27.8 in 2020, 30.6 in 2021, 29.9 in 2023. Obviously PER is not perfect, but clearly if one of our stars is averaging a PER of like 29 vs. 17 for the other there is probably a decent gap between those players.