Examining Clippers' Salary Cap, Decisions for 2024 NBA Free Agency After Mavs Loss

Winning in the postseason is really hard, and few NBA teams are a better example than the Los Angeles Clippers.

For the 12th time in the last 13 years, the Clippers made the playoffs. This season, they earned the No. 4 seed in a loaded Western Conference and owned home-court advantage in the first round.

But the Dallas Mavericks knocked 'em out anyway.

The positive news is Los Angeles won 51 games—the franchise's highest total in seven years—during the regular season.

After another quick playoff exit, though, the Clippers might not be satisfied with running back the roster in 2024-25. Free agency may force some changes anyway.

Similar to the arena-mate Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers' salary-cap situation is entirely dependent on its stars.

Right now, excluding player options, the Clips are basically $40 million below the projected $141 million cap. That sounds nice until you realize Paul George alone has a $48.8 million option—and LA definitely does not want to watch the All-Star forward leave this offseason.

Throw in options for PJ Tucker ($11.5 million) and Russell Westbrook ($4 million), and the Clippers are quickly flirting with the $172 million luxury tax before filling out the roster.

Oh, and we haven't even mentioned James Harden.

While the Clips hold his Bird rights and could re-sign him over the cap, he's headed to unrestricted free agency. Retaining both George and Harden will keep the franchise in second-apron territory.

In all likelihood, LA will be limited to minimum contracts this summer. Any reasonable route to the $12.9 million non-taxpayer's mid-level exception (NTMLE) involves not re-signing a star.

First, Paul George—and his player option.

Second, James Harden.

That should be the order of priority for the Clippers, who also must determine the future of Mason Plulmee. He's the final rotation piece with an expiring deal, though a few others (like reserve Daniel Theis) need a new agreement.

But, as with George, LA's next key decisions are mostly out of its control. Tucker and Westbrook have their player options, and everyone else—including key players Kawhi Leonard, Normal Powell, Ivica Zubac and Terance Mann—is under contract for the 2024-25 campaign.

If the Clippers seek a trade, pairing a future draft selection with Tucker's deal will probably be the starting point.

Repeat the last section, really. The first domino is whether Paul George opts in, opts out and returns or opts out and leaves. Either way, the expectation is the Clips will attempt to bring back James Harden as well.

The short version: I believe both will remain on the Clippers.

As a result, LA would go hunting for minimum deals—whether that's a ring-chasing veteran, a younger talent or someone in between who is trying to stick in the league.

Nicolas Batum and Robert Covington aren't glamorous names but could help the rotation—if they're up for a low-cost reunion. Depending on the outcome of their player and team option, respectively, Josh Okogie and Aaron Wiggins are sensible wings.

If either or both George and Harden leave in free agency, LA will likely pivot to building a new team around Leonard. That would put Buddy Hield and DeMar DeRozan, among others, on the radar.