Here are three players who could help the Clippers get over the hump next season.

James Harden was pursued by the Los Angeles Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers in order to make the early-season acquisition. The Clippers fan base had high hopes for Los Angeles to win the title when the transaction was finalized, but their 2023–24 season came to an abrupt end. The Clippers are now concentrating on their offseason decisions after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in six games during the first round of the playoffs.
Although there aren’t as many players in the NBA this year as in prior years, two Clippers players are unrestricted free agents. While James Harden is once again eligible to reach unrestricted free agency, Paul George has a $44 million player option. It will be difficult to depend on this team to defeat teams like the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in a seven-game series given the brittleness of their studs.

There will be a lot of intrigue surrounding the Clippers this summer, but let’s start with three players their front staff needs to pursue.

De’Anthony Melton

The Clippers’ supporters may not be thrilled with this specific free agency list, but they have to understand that Los Angeles does not have much cap room on hand—that is, if George chooses to exercise his player option. De’Anthony Melton would be a great addition to their team, given his worth is now low due to injuries he sustained during the 2023–2024 season.

Melton has shown to thrive as an accessory player with players like George, Harden, and Kawhi Leonard despite being sidelined. He is an excellent catch-and-shoot shooter and will gladly cover the opposition team’s top scorer. Melton’s poor season has made him less valuable, but the Clippers still have a legitimate shot to sign him as a great supplementary player.

Martin, Caleb
Another bulky forward who might replace P.J. Tucker and Amir Coffey is Caleb Martin. The Miami Heat are rumored to not be interested in re-signing Martin, thus the Clippers need to be determined to sign him to a short-term deal.
Considering how often Leonard gets hurt, having Martin is a fantastic option because he can handle the grunt work and has a different approach from their primary players.

Martin’s services will be crucial to the Clippers’ success in the upcoming season, therefore it is unlikely to cost them more than the mid-level exception. Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell are two established scorers who come off the bench for Los Angeles, but they lack the supporting cast that can boost their output when it matters most. Martin has a history of appearing in the Eastern Conference Finals, so the Clippers need to pursue him hard.

Jones, Derrick Jr.
Derrick Jones Jr. is yet another excellent addition who will flourish in Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue’s system, much like Melton and Martin did with their own approaches and styles. Jones Jr.’s body is always full of energy and relentlessness, even if he does not touch the ball for several possessions. He’s a fantastic high flyer, so Harden and Westbrook will dish out a ton of lob passes to him.

This season, Jones Jr.’s offensive contributions have increased because the Dallas Mavericks have greatly benefited from his corner threes. Furthermore, his remarkable length and defensive ability will be his primary strengths when he plays for the Clippers.