LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue is on a mission to reimagine and restructure his team after a series of significant roster changes. Losing a star player often leads to questions about a team's future, but Lue is determined to prove the doubters wrong.
Significant Changes in the Roster
The departure of Paul George, who has joined the Philadelphia 76ers on a four-year, $212-million deal, has left a considerable void in the Clippers lineup. "When you lose a guy of Paul George's stature, instantly people [think] oh, they can't win or they're not going to be competitive," stated Lue. However, this challenge only seems to fuel his drive. "That just challenges me even more. OK, people are counting us out or people don't think we're going to be good. That right there just gives me an extra dose of [motivation]. I can't wait to prove everybody wrong."
To counterbalance George's departure, the Clippers have acquired defensive players Derrick Jones Jr., Nicolas Batum, and Kris Dunn. Recognizing the importance of teamwork, Lue mentions, "When you lose an important piece like Paul, you gotta do it by committee. He's a very huge defensive player for us, handling the ball, scoring the basketball, making plays. So losing him is going to be tough."
Defensive Reinforcements
One of the significant changes includes the addition of Jeff Van Gundy as Lue's top assistant and defensive coordinator. Van Gundy, returning to an NBA sideline for the first time in 17 years, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Clippers. "Jeff is not afraid to share his opinion. It was just a great move," remarked Mark Few. Lue, who recently served as Team USA's defensive coordinator during the Olympics, highlighted the critical role Van Gundy will play. "That's what we need. Losing PG, starting over with a younger team and doing things the right way — it's going to take both of us to really get our guys on track. The addition of Jeff is going to be huge for us."
Van Gundy's reputation as a basketball strategist is well known. Erik Spoelstra once described him as "He's like Russell Crowe in 'A Beautiful Mind'." This analytical approach is something Lue admires and values. "He's a basketball film rat," said Lue. "He's calling me, asking me questions, offensively, defensively, all the different things about game 17 [of last season]. I don't remember that s---. But he's locked into all that."
Kawhi Leonard's Return
An encouraging development for the Clippers is the anticipated return of Kawhi Leonard. Leonard, who played 68 of the first 74 games in the 2023-24 season, was sidelined by a late-season knee injury. Lue is optimistic about Leonard's readiness for the upcoming season. "I speak to him all the time. He'll be ready for [Clippers] training camp. He's feeling good and I know he'll be ready," Lue assured.
A New Chapter for the Clippers
Integrating new players and a seasoned assistant coach, Lue is focused on creating a cohesive and competitive team. "The pieces that we added this year, we got to play a different style. But we're going to play winning basketball and I know we're going to have a chance to be pretty good," he said. He remains committed to ensuring the team reaches its potential. "It's going to be my job to make sure we get to that point — whatever I have to do."
The upcoming season promises to be a test for Ty Lue and the Clippers, but with new defensive reinforcements and the return of a key player, there's reason to believe they can still compete at a high level. As Lue himself affirmed, "We're going to play winning basketball, and I know we're going to have a chance to be pretty good."