LA Clippers DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Los Angeles Clippers shooting guard James Harden said that he was "home" when asked about re-signing with the Clippers this season. "I don't plan on going anywhere else. I wanna leave a legacy," the 35-year-old stated. Harden signed a two-year, $70M contract this offseason that includes a player option for the 2025-2026 season. NBA fans may be a little skeptical about his intentions not to go anywhere else as he's been on the move quite often since his final days in Houston. However, Harden sounds happy where he's at on a roster that's been a perennial playoff contender since the 2011-2012 season. Harden saw a drop in production across the board in his first season in LA, averaging 16.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 8.5 APG. He will likely be asked to produce more with the departure of Paul George, meaning more opportunities from three. Harden averaged 6.8 three point attempts last season, mostly in line with his volume as a Net and a Sixer. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on Harden in their upcoming drafts. With a current ADP of 21, Harden will be a very important piece to any fantasy roster.

According to Los Angeles Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) is still dealing with swelling in his right knee. While the veteran's condition has improved, it will still limit him during training camp. Most assumed the issue would be behind him. However, it doesn't appear to be the case. Leonard finished last season by averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Leonard is a lock to be ready to begin the 2024-25 campaign, so his fantasy stock will suffer until there is more clarity regarding his health. For now, it may be best for managers to look in another direction during fantasy drafts, at least in the first few rounds.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac agreed to a three-year, $58.6 million contract extension. The Clippers' roster will look different in 2024-25, with Paul George and Russell Westbrook no longer in Los Angeles. Of course, the club still has Kawhi Leonard (knee) and James Harden in the starting lineup. But the Clippers will also have Zubac, who ended the 2023-24 campaign by averaging a career-high 11.7 points with 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. Fantasy managers should continue to get consistent production from the 27-year-old, and his durability makes him a welcome addition to any fantasy roster.

According to Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue, forward Kawhi Leonard (knee) will be ready for training camp in October. "I speak to him all the time," Lue said during an interview with ESPN. "He's feeling good, and I know he'll be ready for training camp." Leonard finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. He also made 41.7% of his tries from deep. However, although Leonard appeared in 68 games, his most since 2016-17, he suffered a knee injury late in the season, causing him to miss most of the playoffs and the 2024 Summer Olympics. With Paul George signing a deal with Philadelphia this offseason and Russell Westbrook now in Denver, the Clippers need Leonard to stay healthy. Unfortunately, that's been an issue for the 33-year-old throughout his career, something managers must strongly consider during fantasy drafts. But if Leonard can stay on the floor, he has MVP potential.

Los Angeles Clippers forward P.J. Tucker has accepted his $11.5 million player option for next season. This seems like a no-brainer for Tucker who probably wasn't going to get a better offer in free agency. The 39-year-old is still a reliable defender, but Tucker doesn't offer much upside on the offensive end of the ball. He'll didn't offer much fantasy value with the Clippers last season. He'll probably have a similar role with the team again, which minutes he'll likely only see minutes in the teens. That being said, fantasy managers can ignore Tucker on draft day.