Daniel Ewing
Brevin Knight
Dan Dickau
Mike Taylor
JamesOn Curry
Courtney Fortson
Maalik Wayns
Pablo Prigioni
Derrick Walton Jr.
Yogi Ferrell
Xavier Moon
Patty Mills

I think will really be a defining year for Ty Lue. He has a ton of pieces to work with and will really be on him to getting them all to buy in. I think Ty has had some up and downs in this role, but I think also some more difficult personalities in the past where it’s maybe been more of a challenge (Morris, Westbrook, PG, Bones, etc.).

We’ll see where he lands this year. I don’t know the personality of the likes of Collins and Beal, but I think should be at least a little easier the Morris and Westbrook. CP presents an interesting case of coming in saying the right things, but a very known ego and remains to be seen if he’ll really be able to turn down the intensity. And Bogi may be coming off being a superstar on the international stage, but will have to adjust to a much more limited role, or very well “should” be the 11th man out and may be pushed out of the rotation. When rotations shrink to like 8 or 9, then they’re dealing with a few of these guys not playing.

It might serve Ty best to bench a guy like Nico where you know he’ll buy in and be ready when called upon. Maybe limit the load on Kawhi and Harden, get the new guys regular minutes, hope the returning role players establish some real chemistry with the new guys.

I was actually highest on Jamil Wilson, until his “legal” issues that I think cost him another shot in the NBA. Well besides Ty Wallace, who i actually thought was a going to be a good NBA player.

Norm and Zu seized their window, while TMann had a tough go. Norm and TMann are gone now, along with others–Amir, KPJ, Mo Bamba, Eubanks, Bones.

The biggest x-factor for the Clips has been flipped. Going from “can they win any games, what will their record be when and if Kawhi comes back” to “what are the Clippers going to be like with a healthy Kawhi in training camp and to start the season?”

Another flip is changed expectations on win total. Coming off a 50-win season, closing on a tear, going out in a hard-fought series against an elite opponent, making high profile roster additions. Sticking to a previous metaphor, going into the season the fort is much more impressive and stronger, and holding/maintaining it is a very different task. Oddsmakers want bettors to bite by projecting 47 wins (in a ridiculously competitive conference), while Clipper fans expect to get to 50 wins again, and folks in Club O are at 55+ and ready to lose their minds in anticipation and excitement (in August).

So where’s the buy-in? Like everything else it starts with Kawhi, I think, who still has everything to prove. Interestingly, I think that this Clipper team will be much better and more resilient if Kawhi is out or goes down, with the additions of Collins and Lopez, and the return of Batum and DJJ. The “Ocean’s 11” approach highlights greater resilience, CP3 in reserve if Harden gets tweaked, Dunn and Bogie playing behind Beal, etc. Even if you boil down the Clippers to 6 or 7 guys they should still be very good and able to win games.

Beal’s buy-in is pretty obvious and striking. I keep coming back to Zu, and I think he’s going to flourish with the spotlight on him now for the first time–Zu’s profile was completely different at this point last year, when he had signed the new deal and we all knew what he did and how good he could be. Harden is right there with him, with so much to look forward to this season.

I guess the idea might be that the Clippers will miss feisty scrappers and underdogs like Dunn and DJJ playing extra hard, while Norm and Zu made the most out of Harden’s bag. I think, however, that Dunn and DJJ are there to attack on demand, and JVG is still a big factor. It’s also hard to envision a let up on a team with Chris Paul coming in as a back up.

Chemistry and vibes should be pretty good, I think. Maybe even great. If anything, some of the guys (Kawhi, CP3) are too competitive, but it seems like a lot of the old hands (Batum & Lopez) should get the flow and play the long game, keep the vibes good, and the level of professionalism seems to be off the charts. Harden stepped into a new role and persona last year, and it’s going to be interesting to see how he fares with a strong backup, less pressure, less responsibility, and his own competitive bar set high.

We all know how it goes–just antsy. I guess I should add that I’ve become an abolish football (CTE) guy, which turns me much more towards the NBA and basketball in August and September than anybody should be. Plenty of work to do, but I love thinking about this new version of the Clippers.