The Los Angeles Clippers were the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference last season, but made the Golden State Warriors work in the first round of the postseason, winning two games at Oracle Arena to force the series to six games. Their Game 2 win, in particular, was one of the moments of the season when they came back from a 31-point deficit to stun Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
This season, the Clippers have their sights set on taking home the No. 1 seed in the West themselves. Just a few days after free agency began, they made the moves of the summer, trading for Paul George and signing Kawhi Leonard in the middle of the night to vault themselves into title contention. They also brought back Patrick Beverley and Ivica Zubac, and acquired Moe Harkless from the Trail Blazers in the four-team Jimmy Butler trade.
Just a few years after their Lob City group was broken up, the Clippers are now not only in title contention, but are the favorite according to Westgate with 7-2 odds. Here's a look at their roster heading into the season
Clippers roster:
- Patrick Beverley -- G
- Paul George -- F
- Kawhi Leonard -- F
- Moe Harkless -- F
- Montrezl Harrell -- C
- Mfiondu Kabengele -- C
- Terance Mann -- F
- Rodney McGruder -- G/F
- Jerome Robinson -- G
- Landry Shamet -- G
- Lou Williams -- G
- Ivica Zubac -- C
- Patrick Patterson -- F
- JaMychal Green -- F/C
- Amir Coffey -- F (Two-way player)
- Johnathan Motley F (Two-way player)
Projected starting lineup:
- Patrick Beverley -- Point Guard
- Landry Shamet -- Shooting Guard
- Kawhi Leonard -- Small Forward
- Paul George -- Power Forward
- Montrezl Harrell -- Center