3 ways in which LA Clippers can line up without Kawhi Leonard in the 2021-22 NBA season

Losing one of the best players in the entire NBA to injury is never an easy situation for teams to navigate, but that's where the LA Clippers find themselves this year. Kawhi Leonard suffered a partially torn ACL in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns and is out indefinitely for the 2021-22 season.

He hopes to return at some point, but will need time to fully return to his pre-injury form in time for a potential playoff run with the LA Clippers. In the meantime, the Clippers will have to make their dues without their best player.

Their primary offseason changes include adding Eric Bledsoe and Justice Winslow while losing Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondon to other Western Conference opponents. Beverley for Bledsoe makes sense when you consider Kawhi Leonard's injury, causing a new need for additional creation on the LA Clippers roster.

Paul George will have to notably step up in the absence of Leonard, and we have seen George have MVP caliber seasons in recent history. Everyone on the LA Clippers roster will need to up their contributions with their best player sidelinded.

Considering the absence of Kawhi Leonard, here are three lineups we could see without him in the 2021-22 season.

#3 Offensive Versatility

Versatility has been the name of the game for the LA Clippers on both ends of the floor for a few years now, representative of Kawhi Leonard, but not limited to him. When focused on offensive versatility, one lineup could be: Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Paul George, Marcus Morris, and Serge Ibaka.

Reggie Jackson's yearly total for the LA Clippers in 2020-21 didn't exactly jump off the page with an average of 10.7 points and 3.1 assists on a nightly basis. His shooting percentages of 45.0 from the field, 43.3 from three and 81.7 from the free throw line do show a reputably efficient season, however, and the playoffs are where he shined.

In 19 playoffs games for the 2020-21 LA Clippers, Reggie Jackson averaged 17.8 points while still remaining his efficient self - 48.4/40.8/87.8 shooting splits. In the absence of Kawhi's scoring input, I would expect Jackson to shoulder a larger offensive responsibility this upcoming season.

Luke Kennard has disappointed so far for the LA Clippers, but can shoot, dribble, and pass at an above-average level. We all know what Paul George brings to the table, and Marcus Morris has cemented himself as a high-level pull-up shooter with space creation ability.

Serge Ibaka over Ivica Zubac was the decision primarily for the spacing advantage Ibaka holds, converting 33.9 percent of his threes last season for the LA Clippers.

#2 Defensive-Focused

While Kawhi Leonard was healthy, the trio of Leonard, George, and Morris were among the most switchable defensive lineups in the NBA. Throughout the majority of next season, the LA Clippers can still find a lineup with similar defensive potential.

Eric Bledsoe, Paul George, Justice Winslow, Marcus Morris, and Ivica Zubac.

Bledsoe has been the recipient of an absurd amount of ridicule throughout the last few seasons, primarily due to him tending to take a step down during the playoffs. Amid all the criticism, people seem to have forgotten that Bledsoe is a two-time All-Defensive player, with the most recent coming in 2018-19 when he was elected to the first team.

His concerns are valid, but his stocky frame paired with quickness makes for some impressive defensive ability. Paul George, Marcus Morris, Justice Winslow and the prototypical do-everything defensive wing. With all of them standing between 6'6" and 6'8", while possessing notable length and lateral quickness, they can switch between themselves with limited issues.

Winslow should be an intriguing player to keep tabs on this season, as he has been inconsistent and riddeled by injury but is still just 25 years old as he joins the LA Clippers.

While Serge Ibaka may be more capable of defending the perimeter, Ivica Zubac has molded himself into one of the best rim protectors in the league. I would be remiss to not include the 7'0" Bosnian big man in a defensive-focused lineup for the 2021-22 LA Clippers.

#1 The potential closing five

The most common lineups last season for the LA Clippers were Patrick Beverley, Paul George, Nicolas Batum, Kawhi Leonard, and Serge Ibaka. Outside of those five, the only other lineup to see more than 80 total minutes together were Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris, and Ivica Zubac. Those lineups logged 264 minutes and 215 minutes respectively.

Those were the clear two favorite combinations of players for LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. Obviously, Kawhi Leonard will not be an option for most, if not all, of the 2021-22 season and replacing his production is no easy task.

With the difference between those lineups alternating between Beverly and Jackson at point, Batum or Morris for the final wing spot, and Zubac or Serge for the center, we can make a decent projection for this season's most common five. Beverley has gone to Minnesota, Batum and Morris can now share the floor with Kawhi sidelined, and take your pick of Zubac or Ibaka for the final spot.

Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Marcus Morris, Nicolas Batum, and Ivica Zubac.

The big men in play will probably vary on a matchup basis, just as it did last season. If the opposition has a more traditional center in play, Zubac makes the most sense.

Jackson, George and Morris will all need an uptick in their offensive production in the absence of Kawhi Leonard, but they have all proven to be more than capable of doing so throughout stretches of their NBA careers.

Replacing the production of a player the caliber of Kawhi Leonard is never an easy task, but the LA Clippers could have the necessary personnel to do so while waiting for him to recover.