The championship window hasn’t closed on the Clippers. But the core group of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan might not have much time left to claim the opportunity before them.
Still, it’ll be a tall task for the Clippers in the still-competitive Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors remain the favorites to reclaim the NBA championship they lost to Cleveland, and San Antonio remains the gold standard despite Tim Duncan’s retirement.
And then there are the Clippers’ own in-house issues.
Paul will turn 32 in May, and a point guard of his age has to be in the win-now mode.
Griffin, 27, is coming off an injury-marred season in which he broke his right hand during a fight with former team assistant equipment manager Matias Testi.
The broken right hand Paul suffered in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series against Portland and the re-injured left quadriceps tendon Griffin suffered in the same game put both out of the playoffs.
The Clippers lost the series, and talk surfaced again about how they still haven’t gotten past the second round.
Health, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, “is not a question,” with Paul and Griffin back playing in scrimmages.
But the question that has dogged the Clippers seemingly forever is whether they have the wherewithal to push past the barriers that have always stymied them.
“First of all, I think we’re good enough,” Rivers said. “But one way or the other, that’s going to be answered. I think we’re deep enough. But that question won’t be answered.
“So my question for us is, can we do it for the long haul? Can we stay committed to the cause and can we stay together throughout the season?”
And what does that take?
“It’s mental, for sure,” Rivers said. “It’s physical, absolutely. It’s sacrifice.”
The Clippers will play their first exhibition Oct. 4 at Golden State and first regular-season game Oct. 27 at Portland.
The championship window for the Clippers becomes even more of a topic because of the contract status of Paul and Griffin.
Both Paul, who will earn $22.8 million this season, and Griffin, who will earn $20.1 million, can opt out of their deals next summer. Guard J.J. Redick is in the final year of a contract that pays him $7.3 million this season.
The Clippers, though, may be equipped to make a move in the West.
They re-signed sixth man Jamal Crawford (three years, $42 million), guard Austin Rivers (three years, $35 million) and forwards Wesley Johnson (three years, $18 million) and Luc Mbah a Moute (two years, $4.5 million). They signed veterans Marreese Speights, Brandon Bass, Raymond Felton and Alan Anderson.
And with veteran Paul Pierce, the Clippers are so loaded that Rivers will have his hands full doling out playing time.
“Well, I’m not going to worry about keeping them happy,” Rivers said. “I’m going to worry about keeping us winning. Winning usually breeds happiness. And if it doesn’t, then we’ve got the wrong team.”