Ranking the 10 championship-less NBA teams by closeness to title
team. 77. . . . Los Angeles Clippers. 3
The LA Clippers have two of basketball’s best all-around superstars, so the title contention window remains open. The two have yet to stay healthy and lead Steve Ballmer’s team to a championship, though, and time is ticking.
Everything for this team revolves around Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. A few years ago, that would’ve been a godsend for any team. Now, it raises questions as their health struggles continue and Father Time threatens to dismantle the All-Star duo before they ever put it together.
Beyond that, the Clippers look somewhat questionable. Ty Lue is a great coach and Terance Mann is an exciting young player. Luckily, the roster warts are covered by the fact that Los Angeles will always be a free-agent destination – yes, even the Clippers – and Ballmer will always be willing to pay top dollar for his team.
The Clippers have been living for the now, and that’s why they are one of the closest teams to breaking their title drought. But if they don’t live for the future, they could quickly find themselves on the other end of the spectrum.
It’s time to get something going on the youth movement. Beyond Mann, Amir Coffey and Bones Hyland will still be around next year. Brandon Boston Jr. and Jason Preston could be in the fold as well.
If the Clippers decide to blow up the George-Leonard duo this summer, it will probably send them on a more sustainable course going forward. But it will also plummet their proximity to a first title.