Brook Lopez may have been a headline addition for the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason, but he wasn’t the only one.
The team also brought in Bradley Beal and John Collins while reuniting with veteran point guard Chris Paul, moves that instantly gave Los Angeles one of the deepest benches in the NBA.
As Law Murray of The Athletic points out, though, that depth also creates a challenge: figuring out how head coach Tyronn Lue will manage the rotation with so many established players.
Murray projects Beal to slide into the starting lineup at shooting guard, providing another scoring threat alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
He also notes that Collins could be in line for a starting role at power forward, which would shift Leonard back to his more natural spot at small forward. With that kind of talent in the starting five, the Clippers could field one of the most dangerous lineups in the West.
Still, the ripple effect of adding so many high-level players means there won’t be enough minutes for everyone.
Some veterans could find themselves with reduced roles or pushed out of the rotation altogether. Nicolas Batum, when asked about how he sees his place on the team, responded with uncertainty.
“Ask (Lue) that question, I don’t know … I mean, I’m here to play basketball,” Batum said.
Murray suggests that Batum, despite his experience and versatility, is the most likely candidate to be the odd man out once the roster is fully healthy.
With so many moving parts, Lue’s ability to balance rotations and manage egos could prove just as important as the Clippers’ star power on the court.
Los Angeles Notes: Doncic, Fifth Starter, Lopez, Clippers Rotation https://t.co/WyUZSejeAy pic.twitter.com/uz0IAbKrcq
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 4, 2025
