The Clippers' season has, once again, come to a disappointing end due to injuries.
In the opening round of the playoffs, LA was eliminated by Phoenix in five games, going down without either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George in the lineup because of knee ailments.
George missed the entire first round due to a knee injury he suffered in the final weeks of the season. Leonard, on the other hand, looked like his dominant self in the first two games of the series, averaging a playoff-leading 34.5 points per game before missing the final three games with a right knee sprain.
As the Clippers shift their focus to another offseason surrounded by frustrating shortcomings, take a look at some key storylines, free agency decisions and more.
Two key storylines
Is the Clippers' championship window with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George closed?
I'm not sure how anyone could answer "yes" to this question after watching Leonard in the first two games of these playoffs without George. The reality is that since both stars joined the Clippers in the 2019 offseason, they have hardly been available at the same time when it matters most, limiting their championship ceiling.
With both Leonard and George healthy in the 2020 NBA Playoffs inside the NBA "Bubble", LA may have missed its best chance after a 3-1 series lead meltdown against the Nuggets in the West Semifinals.
In 2021, Leonard was looking like one of the most terrifying postseason players in the league (again) before suffering a partially torn ACL in the West Semifinals. Even still, George was able to carry the Clippers to the Conference Finals, where they were defeated by the Suns.
MORE: Kawhi Leonard's injury history and missed games by the numbers
Leonard was sidelined for the entire 2021-22 season as he recovered from his ACL injury and the Clippers missed the playoffs after George was forced to sit in their win-or-go-home Play-In game due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Just when it seemed like both stars would finally be healthy for another postseason run in 2023, George went down with a knee injury in the second-to-last week of the season and Leonard suffered another knee injury in the first round. And just like that, the Clippers were without their two best players again.
If Leonard and George could ever enter the postseason with a clean bill of health together, this team is more than capable of winning a title. But time is running out as Leonard will soon be 32 and George will soon be 33. Both stars have a player option following the 2023-24 season.
As they say, "the best ability is availability."
MORE: Expert medical analysis on Paul George's knee sprain
Will Russell Westbrook return to the Clippers this offseason?
During the Kawhi-PG era, the Clippers' biggest void had been at point guard. It seems as though they have found their guy in Westbrook, who excelled once he signed with LA in the buyout market at the trade deadline.
Westbrook embraced his role as a distributor and defensive stopper for the Clippers. He even elevated his game to another level when LA needed it most in the playoffs. With the star guard set to enter unrestricted free agency this offseason, his teammate, George, is already campaigning to bring his wingman back.
MORE: Kevin Durant, Chris Paul praise Russell Westbrook, slam critics
"I'm definitely vouching for him to come back. I just think he brings so much to this team," George told the media ahead of Game 5. "... I just think he's the leader that we need at the point guard position going forward and would love to have him back."
It will be interesting to see if the Clippers' front office agrees.
Clippers' upcoming free agents
Westbrook and Mason Plumlee are the Clippers' only two unrestricted free agents in the 2023 offseason. Two-way players Moussa Diabate and Xavier Moon are both restricted free agents.
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Player Option | Team Option |
| Russell Westbrook | Moussa Diabate | None | None |
| Mason Plumlee | Xavier Moon |
Unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any team. Restricted free agents can sign an offer sheet with any team, but the player's original team has the option to bring them back by matching the offer.
Last offseason, player and team options had to be exercised by June 29, the day before free-agent negotiations began.
Clippers' future salaries, roster
Both George and Leonard are under contract for the 2023-24 season with a player option looming large for both stars in 2024 free agency. The 2023-24 season is also the final campaign where role players like Marcus Morris Sr., Nic Batum and Robert Covington are under contract, as well as Eric Gordon's non-guaranteed salary.
| Player | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
| Paul George | $45.6 million | $48.8 million (PO) | UFA |
| Kawhi Leonard | $45.6 million | $48.8 million (PO) | UFA |
| Eric Gordon | $20.9 million (NG) | UFA | |
| Norman Powell | $18 million | $19.2 million | $20.5 million |
| Marcus Morris Sr. | $17.1 million | UFA | |
| Nic Batum | $11.7 million | UFA | |
| Robert Covington | $11.7 million | UFA | |
| Ivica Zubac | $10.9 million | $11.7 million | UFA |
| Terance Mann | $10.6 million | $11.4 million | UFA |
| Amir Coffey | $3.7 million | $3.9 million | UFA |
| Bones Hyland | $2.3 million | $4.2 million (TO) | RFA |
| Brandon Boston Jr. | $1.8 million (NG) | RFA | |
| Jason Preston | $1.8 million (NG) | RFA |
PO = Player option
TO = Team option
NG = Non-guaranteed
UFA = Unrestricted free agent
RFA = Restricted free agent
Clippers 2023 NBA Draft picks
The Clippers own two picks in the 2023 NBA Draft — the No. 30 overall pick (via MIL) and the No. 48 overall pick.
The Clippers will settle for the Bucks' No. 30 overall pick as part of their first-round pick swap with the Rockets in the trade deadline deal that landed Eric Gordon in LA. Their No. 20 overall pick will go to Houston in return.
In my Post-NCAA Tournament Mock Draft, I had the Clippers selecting Houston senior Marcus Sasser, who was one of the best guards in the country this past season. He is a reliable scorer and playmaker who digs in on the defensive end, and his age and experience fit LA's win-now timeline.
