Clippers never replaced Paul George and they are paying for it now

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- You don't know a good thing until it's gone. 

Clippers fans may not want to admit it, but the departure of former Clippers All-Star Paul George is being felt. And it's been felt over the last two seasons. 

After their latest loss against the Dallas Mavericks (6-15) that does nothing but put a band aid over the many holes that the Clippers currently have. Holes that George was able to cover throughout his five-year tenure with the Clippers. 

The lack of scoring, shooting, play making, and defense all points to the Clippers 26th ranked offense and 28th ranked defense.  

Last season, it was different they finished the regular season with the fifth seed in the Western Conference. While the season, the Clippers were ranked 3rd defensively and 15th offensively. Both pointing at the play of Kawhi Leonard down the stretch of the season. 

Over the last two seasons, the Clippers have tried a few different options to replace George, and while they are all good none have been able to fully replace what George brought to the table. 

Norman Powell 

After the departure of George in the 2024 off-season, Powell was extremely confident, the 24-25 season was an opportunity for the team to show that they had more than enough to be a solid team without George.  For the regular season, that is exactly what it was.  

In 60 games, Powell averaged 21.4 ppg off of 48/41/80 shooting splits. His ability to create rim pressure, draw fouls, and be a shot maker Powell was a vital piece to the Clippers' regular season success that he was getting All-Star recognition for.  

However, as much of scoring threat Powell was the other factors of playmaking, defense, and rebounding doesn’t quite match up with George. In the playoffs versus the Denver Nuggets where Powell’s scoring average dropped significantly to 16 ppg off of 47/35/77 shooting splits, and when you limit Powell’s scoring, his ability drops all around. 

Last year in the playoffs vs the Nuggets, the play that changed the series was when Aaron Gordon made the game winning basket off of an alley oop dunk. This is a prime example of the limitations with Powell at 6'3, unable to box out a player like Gordon who stands at 6'8.

James Harden 

During the 2023-24 season, was the arrival of Harden. However, the circumstances were much different at the time Leonard, George, and Russell Westbrook were still on the roster. That put Harden as the defacto third option where he averaged 16 ppg while having the role of being the primary point guard. 

After the departure of George, he would be forced to move into that second option role that George carried for five seasons.   

For the 2024-25 season, he seemed to do a serviceable job averaging 22.8 ppg and 8.7 apg receiving All-Star honors and All-NBA third team honors. For the regular season, Harden did his what he was supposed to do, but much like Powell it was different in the postseason. 

Harden’s scoring and assists averages went down to 21.0 ppg and 8.2 apg including a disappointing close out game where Harden finished with only seven points in nine attempts. That is simply not enough to be a second option. 

Paul George was Kawhi Leonard’s Perfect Co-Star 

There is a reason why Leonard vouched for George to be his co-star. They both fit.  

Unlike Harden and Powell, who are great offensive talents, that is only half of the conversation. Defense is still an important element to the game. Elite two-way players are the most valuable players in the NBA because they are so few of them who are on that level on both ends of the court. 

In five seasons together, Leonard and George have a 137-70 (66.2%) record and a Western Conference Finals appearance the only one in their franchise history. Since 2021, the Clippers have yet to follow that up.

Bringing in another offensive player like Bradley Beal is just an extension of adding another piece trying to replace what George brought.

George is simply irreplaceable.