2026 Offseason: Key Decisions Loom for the Los Angeles Clippers
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The Los Angeles Clippers enter the 2026 summer facing pivotal choices after a turbulent 2025/26 campaign that ended with a play-in defeat to Golden State.
From 50 Wins to Mid-Season Sell-Off
One year ago, Los Angeles appeared poised to build on a 50-32 record and a competitive seven-game first-round loss to Denver. Paul George’s 2024 exit created cap room that the front office used to bring in several rotation players, but the optimism quickly faded.
The NBA opened an investigation in September into a potential salary-cap circumvention involving Kawhi Leonard and a “no-show” endorsement deal with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration. On the court, newly signed guard Bradley Beal underwent season-ending hip surgery in the fall, and veteran point guard Chris Paul parted ways with the club fewer than two months into the schedule.
A 6-21 start prompted management to trade James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the February deadline. Despite those moves, the Clippers rallied to finish 42-40 and secured the No. 9 seed, but their season ended with a home loss to the Warriors in the 9/10 play-in game.
Uncertain Path Forward
The franchise still awaits the outcome of the league’s probe, which could lead to penalties such as lost draft picks. Separately, the front office must decide whether to continue building around Leonard or pivot toward a younger core featuring Darius Garland and the No. 5 overall selection in this year’s draft.
Leonard’s Contract at the Center of Talks
Leonard, who turns 35 in June, is entering the final guaranteed season of his deal and is set to earn $50.3 million in 2026/27 before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027. The two-time Finals MVP is coming off his most complete year in Los Angeles, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals on .505/.387/.892 shooting across 65 games (32.1 minutes per game). He finished seventh in MVP voting and landed on the All-NBA Second Team.
Whether the Clippers pursue an extension with Leonard or explore trade options will shape the remainder of the offseason and signal the organization’s long-term direction.
Source: Hoops Rumors
