Malcolm Brogdon, then of the Washington Wizards, soon to join the L.A. Clippers
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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: Malcolm Brogdon #15 of the Washington Wizards in action against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at Capital One Arena on December 05, 2024 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
As soon as the NBA’s free agency window opened, the Los Angeles Clippers took care of almost all their business.
Needing both a point guard and a center, they swiftly addressed the latter of those. The Clippers agreed to a deal with Brook Lopez of the Milwaukee Bucks within the first few ticks of the clock, taking one of the best center pieces off of the market and creating a two-headed defensive monster in the lane alongside Ivica Zubac.
The Clippers came into play with a clear to-do list: an extra bit of offense, a savvy point guard, a backup center, and no one that needs too great of an incubation period. With these moves, at least two of those items can be considered checked off already. And be it through Chris Paul, Malcolm Brogdon or another veteran point guard of note, it seems the remainder will not be too far away.
Clippers’ Financial Management Paying Dividends
The Clippers will use most, but not all, of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Lopez to what is reported to be a two-year, $18 million pact. The remainder, it is assumed, will be earmarked for the point guard they decide on.
Unlike many of their peers, the Clippers entered the free agency period still with access to the full non-taxpayer amount of the mid-level exception, because of how well their overall salary cap picture is managed. And that position has allowed to add quality veterans to what was already a top three NBA defence.
In addition to the Lopez addition, the Clippers also took care of their own back yard. For the second consecutive season, James Harden declined a player option, only to re-sign to a two-year deal with another player option attached, and in a continuing act of defiance at his own previous plans of retirement, Nic Batum also re-signed to a two-year deal. He might retire before that second season – for real, this time – but that is a bridge that will be crossed later.
The Clippers’ only remaining free agents are Amir Coffey, who does not move the needle either way, and Ben Simmons, who will depart. That, then, is pretty much all of the offseason business taken care of. And it is still only July 1.
Not The First Lightning Clippers Offseason
This is not the first time that the Clippers have moved with serious speed on the free agency market. In the summer of 2022, for example, they extended Robert Covington and Ivica Zubac, signed John Wall, re-signed Batum (again), re-signed Coffey (once), and drove Isaiah Hartenstein to the airport – all taking place within one hour of the window opening.
Lopez’s name had been attached to the other Los Angeles team, the Lakers, in the days leading up to the free agency period. Instead, the Lakers are now keeping tabs on Deandre Ayton, who was bought out earlier this week by the Portland Trail Blazers in a deal in which he gave back $10 million, while maintaining that their real plan is for the summer of 2027 instead.
Given the fact that the Clippers handed out so many two-year pacts, though, the 2027 excuse does not fly. Brook, simply, chose the Clippers. The Clippers, not the Lakers, have become the Los Angeles destination of choice for some of the NBA’s senior grandees. The Clippers gained not just a quality two-way center, but some important bragging rights.
Proven Quality
Aged 37, Lopez is inevitably starting to slow down a bit. Last season was his seventeenth in the NBA, an enormous amount for a man of his size, and he has played almost 1,200 games in his career, regular and postseasons combined.
That said, Lopez still rarely misses a game. He has played 78, 79 and 80 games across the last three seasons respectively, and posted averages of 13.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season along the way. Lopez has been the embodiment – and in no small way, a pioneer – of the modern shoot-the-three-guard-the-lane center prototype, and is still very effective in both roles, hitting 37.3% from three-point range on the season to go along with 1.9 blocks per game.
In their offseason plan, the Clippers knew they were not targeting players with upside. Instead, they knew they would seek unproblematic veteran players who got at least to the fringes of the All-Star tier at their apexes, who can still contribute while being more accepting of diminishing roles, to provide them with valuable depth as they hope to keep open a competitiveness window for the next couple of seasons.
Mission accomplished in the front court with Lopez. Now, close the deal for a Brogdon-shaped piece for the backcourt, and start the holiday season early.