The Los Angeles Clippers do not have the luxury of time, that much is clear. Despite acquiring two bonafide superstar small forwards in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back in 2019, the Clippers have fallen short over and over again in the postseason, mostly due to the injury-prone nature of their two franchise cornerstones. And entering the 2023-24 season, there aren't too many analysts out there that are bullish on their chances of winning a championship.

In fact, Zach Lowe of ESPN believes that the Clippers are in a position of needing a blockbuster acquisition, most likely James Harden, just to insert themselves into legitimate title contention.

“I think they've reached the point where they know they have to make a trade to actually get in the conversation with Denver and Phoenix, which is kinda depressing because the whole point of trading everything for Kawhi [Leonard] & Paul George was to never be in a position where you have to make a trade,” Lowe told JJ Redick on the Old Man & The Three podcast.

Is it safe to say that the league has passed this iteration of the Clippers by? Perhaps. After all, there are plenty of reasons not to trust their current roster's ability to mount a deep postseason run, and it isn't for a lack of talent. Kawhi Leonard, as everyone saw in the 2023 playoffs, is still a machine, an unassailable assassin that does his best damage underneath the bright lights of the playoffs. But Leonard's ability to stay healthy is virtually non-existent, and at 32 years old, it's hard to envision him getting any healthier as he ages.

Meanwhile, the Clippers' arsenal of versatile wings that made them such a lethal team isn't as valuable as it was in the past; Nicolas Batum has slowed down by multiple steps on his way to retirement, Marcus Morris Sr. won't be around the team for long, and Robert Covington hasn't garnered the trust of head coach Tyronn Lue at all.

Acquiring James Harden, at the very least, gives the Clippers another lethal offensive threat, a workload sponge who could allow the Clippers to afford Kawhi Leonard and Paul George more rest. But can they finally entice the Philadelphia 76ers on a potential trade given the two sides' three-month long stalemate to this point?