Detailed Analysis of the Clippers’ New Season 11-Man Rotation: Talent and Depth Upgraded, Lineup Decisions Pose Challenges for Coach Lue

Among the Clippers’ 14 players holding standard contracts, 11 logged an average of no less than 17 minutes per game last season, each with a minimum of eight NBA seasons under their belt. It’s evident that the Clippers will rank among the league’s oldest teams by average age. Out of these 11, eight are above 30 years old, but the team’s talent and depth have certainly been enhanced.

“We have a very deep roster; from player number one through eleven, everyone has proven themselves on the court, with strong backups at every position,” Clippers’ President of Basketball Operations Frank said this week. “This summer, we added size, athleticism, and shooting to our frontcourt, while boosting playmaking, ball handling, and shooting in the backcourt.”

How to deploy this rotation and build an 11-man system will be a puzzle for head coach Tyronn Lue to solve. Here is his analysis of these 11 players—

Harden

For Harden, who turned 36 this summer, “endurance” will be the key focus in the upcoming season. Last year, only Mikal Bridges, Hart, Edwards, and Booker logged more minutes; only Giannis and Alexander attempted more free throws; and only Trae Young and Jokic had more assists than him.

With the additions of Beal and Paul, plus Leonard’s improved health, Harden will share offensive and ball-handling responsibilities—allowing him more rest even when on the floor; in some games, he might not play at all. Moreover, the arrivals of Collins and Lopez enhance the team’s size advantage, reducing Harden’s defensive burden against opposing big men.

Leonard

Much public attention has focused on allegations involving Leonard and a bankrupt environmental company’s endorsement deal, accused of helping the team and billionaire owner Ballmer circumvent the salary cap, but Leonard appears unaffected by these distractions.

From a performance standpoint, he is currently in good physical shape. Tyronn Lue stated that on the first day of training camp, Leonard was “the best performer on the court.” Without restrictions on playing time, he may be the only Clipper whose average minutes per game could increase during the regular season.

Zubac

Tyronn Lue mentioned on media day that Zubac played excessive minutes last season, and his average playing time may drop to around 30 minutes this year. Nevertheless, Zubac remains the third most important player on the Clippers, and Lue plans to increase his tactical usage—beyond pick-and-rolls, Zubac will get more touches in the post.

Beal

Beal will start at shooting guard, replacing Powell, which is unsurprising. Regardless of his offensive role, he will benefit the Clippers, and his primary advantage over Powell lies in his playmaking ability, offering Coach Lue more lineup flexibility.

More importantly for the Clippers is whether Beal can deliver strong rebounding and defensive performances. Last season, the Clippers started Jones or Dunn to handle ball defense early in games; if this approach is discontinued, Beal will need to take on this responsibility, and the team seems confident in his capability.

It’s worth noting that Beal underwent right knee arthroscopy during the offseason, and his activity was limited during training camp as a precaution—highlighting that his biggest concern remains “health stability.” Last season, Powell played 60 games, but since 2021 (Beal’s last All-Star season), he has never played 60 games in a single season.

Collins

Collins is likely to replace Amir Coffey from last season’s roster. Coffey didn’t make the playoff rotation but played 72 regular-season games, averaging 24.3 minutes with a 40.9% three-point shooting rate, frequently scoring on fast breaks.

Although Collins’ shooting and fast-break skills aren’t as strong as Coffey’s, he brings a trait the Clippers have lacked since Griffin was traded to the Pistons in 2018: a “combination of athletic build and skill” at the forward position. He can score both inside and outside the paint, while also contributing on rebounds and defense.

If Coach Lue starts Collins, it will be his first time pairing with Zubac—forming an inside duo that blends size, skill, and athleticism; if Collins comes off the bench, he may get more touches as a second-unit offensive focal point, effective both alongside Lopez or as a small-ball center. His ultimate role will depend on the “best lineup fit.”

Dunn

Last season, Dunn started 58 games for the first time in his career and played 74 games total, marking his highest game count since his rookie year, averaging 24.1 minutes. Despite this, he was not nominated for the All-Defensive Team because the NBA’s CBA requires at least 53 games with over 20 minutes played, a threshold he did not meet.

With Beal’s arrival, Dunn’s chances of starting have significantly diminished, and his ball-handling value alongside Harden is less prominent than it was with Powell. However, last season only Dyson Daniels and Alexander had more steals than Dunn, making him an indispensable defensive anchor for the second unit.

Jones

Jones has a clear role: taking on ball defense, participating in fast breaks, and hitting threes. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he can fulfill this role. The main reason for starting him over Dunn is that Jones offers greater size and more reliable ball defense, reducing the defensive burden on Beal. Regardless of role, Jones is expected to average 20-25 minutes per game this season.

Bogdan Bogdanovic

As captain of the Serbian national team, Bogdanovic withdrew early from the EuroBasket due to a hamstring injury, a significant setback. Like Beal, he possesses both ball-handling and off-ball skills but similarly struggles with health stability, limiting his activity early in training camp. Fortunately, his hamstring injury did not worsen, and his importance to the Clippers lies in being the best scoring option among the backup guards.

Brook Lopez

Lopez’s playing time will be managed flexibly this season: sometimes serving as Zubac’s backup, sometimes possibly not playing at all—an adjustment for him, considering he started nearly every game in his past seven seasons with the Bucks, including playoffs, with only four games not as a starter.

However, in some games, Lopez might start in place of Zubac, and Coach Lue may experiment with a twin-towers lineup featuring both Zubac and Lopez. As one of the NBA’s best “three-point shooting and shot-blocking” big men in history, Lopez’s average minutes might be under 20 per game, but he provides the Clippers with a reliable backup center they lacked last season.

Paul

Similar to Lopez, Paul has shifted from starting all 82 games last season to a clear backup role. At 40 years old, he may sit out some games, and his average minutes should not exceed 20 per game.

Paul essentially replaces Patty Mills from the Clippers’ 2025 playoff roster—last season, the Clippers relied only on Kevin Porter Jr. and Hyland as backup guards. Paul can still handle pick-and-roll playmaking, free-throw line facilitation, catch-and-shoot threes, and steals. Most importantly for the Clippers, he is one of the most stable ball handlers in NBA history—last season, the Clippers ranked 23rd in turnover rate, and Paul’s arrival is expected to improve this issue.

Batum

Batum is one of Coach Lue’s favorite players due to his “low demand, high adaptability”: clearly defined role, always ready, efficient in execution, and able to pair with nearly any teammate.

Like Jones, Batum’s responsibilities include defending multiple positions, cutting without the ball, and hitting threes, without needing to create shots off the dribble. When the Clippers are fully healthy, Batum may see the least playing time among the 11-man rotation and is the most likely to be left out. Last season, he averaged only 17.5 minutes per game, a career low, and he will turn 37 this December.

Given the Clippers’ age and injury risks, Batum remains a “key bench option.” As demonstrated in last season’s playoffs, he increased his minutes to 24.6 per game during the seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets.