Clippers Face Tough Decisions as Losses, Investigations and Cap Issues Pile Up
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LOS ANGELES – A 6-16 record, multiple off-court controversies and a roster heavy on expiring contracts have left the 2025-26 Los Angeles Clippers searching for a workable plan, league sources told ESPN.
The club sits 13th in the Western Conference after Wednesday’s blowout win over Atlanta, yet turmoil has dominated the season. The “Aspiration” scandal and an NBA inquiry into alleged salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard have been followed by a very public split with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul.
Complicating matters, the Clippers already owe their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who also hold swap rights on LA’s 2027 selection. Without control of those picks, tanking offers little relief.
Option 1: Add Help Now
Executives note that more than $50 million in Clippers salaries will expire this summer. In the new apron era, those contracts could absorb players other teams are eager to move. One Western Conference scout pointed to Sacramento guard Zach LaVine, 30, who carries a $49 million player option for 2026-27. Taking on LaVine would not affect LA’s long-term goal of creating cap space in 2027 and might even net an additional asset from a club looking to dump salary.
Option 2: Trade the Stars
Another scenario mirrors Brooklyn’s mid-2010s reset: ship out veterans for young talent and future picks. To accelerate a potential 2026 cap reset, LA would need partners willing to absorb James Harden’s $42 million player option and Leonard’s $50 million 2026-27 salary. Several scouts believe Harden could be moved; Leonard’s market is less clear because of his health history and the ongoing investigation. Moving salary would also help the franchise escape the repeater tax; the Clippers are roughly $6.7 million over the threshold this season.
Option 3: Stay the Course
Some long-time league observers advocate patience. They argue that teams currently ahead of the Clippers are likely to pivot toward the lottery later in the season, allowing LA to climb the standings. Head coach Ty Lue still has Leonard, Harden and center Ivica Zubac healthy, and the Western Conference drop-off after Oklahoma City, the Lakers, Houston, San Antonio, Denver and Minnesota is significant. Despite the rough start, insiders contend the roster is too talented to languish near the bottom all year.
Paul will not be around for any potential turnaround, but ownership expected at least a top-six finish when the season began. With time ticking and few obvious solutions, one Eastern Conference executive summed up the prevailing sentiment: every road the Clippers can take appears fraught with risk.
Source: ESPN
