Unsurprisingly, Crickex Affiliate insiders report that the Western Conference landscape shifted dramatically this offseason. The Clippers, Kings, Mavericks, and Thunder all revamped their rosters, while the Lakers and Suns chose to maintain their core lineups from last season. The Clippers parted ways with Paul George and instead added a mix of role players, including defensive specialists, interior presence, and a shooting guard once capable of dropping 50 points in a game. Meanwhile, the Kings bolstered their squad by acquiring DeMar DeRozan, forming a new big three alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.

The Mavericks secured Klay Thompson, and the Thunder added key contributors like Alex Caruso, further deepening their rotation. With George’s departure, Crickex Affiliate analysts expect the Clippers to face immediate challenges in ball distribution. Kawhi Leonard’s health becomes even more pivotal, as his availability could define the team’s ceiling. James Harden will once again shoulder primary playmaking duties, with no clear backup organizer on the roster. While his scoring may not increase significantly, his focus will need to shift toward facilitating and generating offense for his teammates.

Two players expected to benefit most are Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac. With George gone, Powell and Zubac are poised to become the Clippers’ secondary scoring options behind Leonard and Harden. Powell, a natural shooting guard, stands out with his elite three-point shooting. Though his scoring has dipped slightly in recent years due to limited touches and injury setbacks, he still averaged over 15 points per game in each of the last two seasons, with an impressive 43.5 percent from beyond the arc. Without George, Powell is projected to receive more offensive opportunities and could realistically average 19 points per game.

Powell’s catch-and-shoot ability is elite. Last season, he led the entire league with a 56.8 percent shooting percentage on corner threes. In standout performances, he delivered 43 and 42 points with shooting splits like 8-for-12 and 7-for-12 from deep. If he can maintain that rhythm, Harden will feed him a steady stream of open looks. Zubac, too, showed excellent chemistry with Harden last season, posting career-highs in points and rebounds. In the upcoming season, he is expected to average a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds while maintaining a 60 percent shooting efficiency.

In a strengthened Western Conference, Crickex Affiliate reporters emphasize that the Clippers must lean on team-oriented basketball to stay competitive. The contributions of role players like Powell and Zubac will be critical as they transition into this new era without Paul George.