5 biggest NBA offseason questions that still need to be answered

1. Four years ago, the Clippers seemed destined to contend for multiple championships thanks to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Now? Neither look guaranteed to sign a contract extension.

Most Clippers fans will tell you they have had few moments of pure joy by rooting for this team. Instead, they’ve been constantly mocked for repeated playoff failures and had to watch their city rivals — the Lakers — maintain their California dominance.

In the summer of 2019, that was all supposed to change. The Clippers signed Leonard — who had just led the Raptors to their first-ever title in franchise history — and traded for George. It was, on paper, the best wing duo in the league.

Two players with elite talent on both ends of the floor who were capable of winning playoff games on their own. It was a star pairing that most believed only the Lakers could acquire, but clearly, the tides had turned.

Since then though, the Clippers have been nothing but frustrating and/or disappointing.

In the bubble in 2020, they blew a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets.

In 2021, they made the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history but Leonard and George were both hurt and they lost to the Suns.

In 2022, they missed the playoffs entirely after getting eliminated in the play-in tournament.

In 2023, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Suns, 4-1.

In both seasons, they were plagued by injuries – primarily to George and Leonard.

Leonard is now 32, George is 33.

George is in the final year of his contract and is eligible for a contract extension. Leonard becomes eligible for an extension in September.

At the moment, the Clippers are not in any rush to extend either of them. Can you blame them? Neither has been healthy for the playoffs for three straight seasons.

But if you’re not extending them, what is the next move? Trade them? For what? Who else in the league wants to extend them?

Trading them would also be waving the white flag on this era, with one Western Conference finals appearance being their crowning moment, and a new arena coming in soon that needs to be paid for.

The future is blurry and somewhat bleak for the Clippers, and while they have time on these decisions — they will certainly be watched closely for the rest of the summer and next season.