When you take a moment to picture a “nightmare” offseason, Los Angeles’ 2026 summer is the embodiment of that — and then some.
Following a nearly year-long investigation, the Clippers were deemed guilty of facilitating salary cap circumvention involving star forward Kawhi Leonard. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver gave LA the hammer: The Clippers lost five first-round draft selections from 2029 to 2033, were fined $30 million and owner Steve Ballmer was suspended from all team activity for one year. Other higher-ups, including president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, were also handed lesser suspensions.
As for Leonard? He was eventually traded back to the Toronto Raptors, where he led the franchise to its first-ever championship in 2019. The NBA fined Leonard just $700,000 for his involvement, despite allegedly collecting $66 million in under-the-table cash and assets from four different sponsors.
In exchange for Leonard, the Clippers received the services of two-time All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick, three first-round picks (2027, 2031, 2033) and two second-round picks (2030, 2033).
While the draft assets certainly help lessen the blow of the league’s sanctions, LA is still left in a storm of disarray.
On the court, the Clippers simply don’t have the pieces to remain relevant amongst a stacked Western Conference.
Still, all isn’t lost for LA. The team did add some interesting pieces to the mix throughout the offseason, notably poaching forward Rui Hachimura from their cross-town foe, the LA Lakers, on a two-year, $28 million deal. Guards Bradley Beal and Kobe Sanders also found their way back onto the squad, re-signing via two and four-year contracts, respectively.
Amidst all the chaos and gloom, perhaps the primary real piece of optimism for the future came with the selection of 19-year-old guard Keaton Wagler from Illinois. LA used its fifth overall pick in the draft to snag Wagler, who complements All-Star Darius Garland in the backcourt, providing some of the highest shooting upside of any prospect in the 2026 class.
Second-round draft pick and forward Baba Miller is also promising, bringing impressive athleticism, finishing and defensive versatility. During the summer league, Miller shone: averaging 12 points, four rebounds and two assists on 62% shooting.
The Clippers’ current roster also has veterans that will keep LA from the bottom of the standings, including forwards Derrick Jones Jr. and Max Strus (acquired via trade in August), center Brook Lopez and guard Kris Dunn. 23-year-old big man Yanic Konan Niederhäuser is also expected to return from injury sometime before 2027, providing an athletic lob threat and defender to re-incorporate into the rotation. In the meantime, Isaiah Jackson is expected to occupy the backup center minutes.
Clipper fans can expect a starting lineup along the lines of Garland, Wagler, Ingram, Jones Jr. and Lopez, with Hachimura, Dunn, Sanders, Strus, Dick, Jackson and Beal getting involved off the bench. 26-year-old guard Jordan Miller, who averaged 10 points across 60 games last season for LA, could also find himself involved, but his role remains unclear.
While it’s undeniable that there are quality assets on the roster, they come across more as floor raisers than as a group that will make any sort of playoff noise. With teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves all loaded up for highly competitive 2026-2027 campaigns, it’s hard to justify the Clippers being a part of that conversation.
Instead, LA should be viewing next year through the lens of recovery and development. Wagler (19), Dick (22), Miller (22), Konan Niederhäuser (23), Sanders (24) and Garland (26) supply the youthful presence that remains essential to constructing any contending unit. Another season under their belts will only help the front office (what remains of it, at least) continue to solidify a team identity and further shape the blueprint for reconciliation.
From an optimist’s standpoint, it’s reasonable to believe that LA will win enough games to be in the mix for a spot in the NBA Play-In tournament. Their balance of consistent veterans and potentially promising young talent will be an interesting mix on the court, but the floor is sure to be high enough that the team will avoid dwelling around the very bottom of the conference.
It’s also important to note that the Clippers have no motivation to encourage any form of tanking. And with a severe lack of draft capital, the organization has no incentive to tank. They might as well do what they can to create a winning culture and, at the very least, prove to the fanbase that they’re serious about turning the ship around despite the slim odds.