“They have officially become the nursing home for the NBA” – Kendrick Perkins makes fun of the Los Angeles Clippers for bringing in Chris Paul originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The Los Angeles Clippers have emerged as one of the most active teams in this offseason. After getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight year last campaign, the franchise clearly feels it’s time to add a bunch of new pieces around its star duo of James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
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But for Kendrick Perkins, it’s their approach to that revamp that’s now bordering on laughable. Following the team’s latest move to acquire a 40-year-old Chris Paul, Big Perk openly questioned the Clippers’ path to chase a title or even sustain itself, while being in a tightly contested Western Conference.
Perkins hands sarcastic claps to Clippers
The strategy for the Clippers seemed clear. With their intent to retain both their mid-30s superstars in Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, the logical next step would’ve been to bring in younger, high-energy players who could throw their body and do all the gritty work throughout the regular season. That would not only preserve the health of the veteran duo but also keep them fresh for the playoffs. Instead, Steve Ballmer swerved in the completely opposite direction.
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After already acquiring a 37-year-old big man in Brook Lopez, re-signing a 3-and-D shooter in Nicolas Batum, who is 36 and also signing a low-in-confidence Bradley Beal, the team clearly needed a younger player who could fit well with those veterans.
But the Clippers’ front office decided to add another ball-dominant figure in CP3.
Perk failed to understand how a player like Paul is bound to make his presence felt on a team where he would hardly get the ball, considering he has shot 47 percent from the field in his career. With confusion and chaos all over the air, Perkins laughed off the idea of having so many cooks to spoil the broth.
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“Congratulations to Steve Ballmer and the Los Angeles Clippers. They have officially become the nursing home for the NBA for the players that are on the back end of their career,” Perkins said. “I’m serious, because if we think this is ’bout to move the needle for the Clippers for being competitors, it doesn’t… the Clippers look old and they still have a problem with the wing position when it comes down to depth.”
Coach Lue needs to implement a proper strategy
On paper, the Clippers might look like a better team than a year ago. But against young, high-octane teams like the San Antonio Spurs or Oklahoma City Thunder, both of whom thrive in transition, the lack of speed and athleticism could haunt the Clippers.
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That is why head coach Tyronn Lue must set clear roles. If Harden and Beal are going to run the offense for the starters, finding ways to involve Kawhi Leonard and utilize Ivica Zubac in pick-and-roll sets, then CP3 should be used to steady the second unit, perhaps forming chemistry with Lopez to keep the offense flowing while the stars rest.
That being said, while Perkins’ mockery might seem like a punchline right now, it underscores a wider issue: if the Clippers do not get their plans on point, they will continue to be a mediocre team in the West.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.