Paul George trade debacle aside, the Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the better run organizations in recent NBA memory. Things are unraveling for them very quickly in a way the Los Angeles Lakers can only laugh at.
The Norman Powell trade was a pivotal point of the 2025 offseason that doomed the Clippers. The other Los Angeles team pushed for the addition of John Collins in anticipation of adding Bradley Beal. The latter was supposed to supplement Powell's departure. He didn't.
Beal suffered a season-ending injury on his left hip. Even before that came to pass, the new Clipper was struggling on the court, averaging just 8.