The Los Angeles Clippers remain focused on building a “playoff caliber” team for the 2026-27 NBA season despite significant changes to their roster and front office structure, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
“To prognosticate where the Clippers are gonna try to be next summer is very difficult,” Fischer said. “All I know right now is that all summer long and through today, the Clippers have been focused on building out a playoff caliber team for this season.”
Fischer added that competing for a playoff spot has remained the organization’s goal throughout Steve Ballmer’s ownership, with the Clippers aiming to field a team capable of winning on any given night at Intuit Dome.
That objective comes after an offseason of major upheaval. The Clippers finished 42-40 last season and subsequently lost Kawhi Leonard, their centerpiece, in a long-delayed trade with the Toronto Raptors on September 14.
The deal sent Leonard to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two second-round picks. The transaction had originally been agreed upon June 30 but was delayed amid the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers.
Leonard averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 65 games last season while shooting 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. He earned All-NBA Second Team honors and finished seventh in MVP voting.
Ingram now becomes Los Angeles’ primary offensive piece. The 29-year-old will join a backcourt featuring two-time All-Star Darius Garland, who averaged 19.9 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 47.1% overall and 43.8% from three in 19 games for the Clippers last season.
The Clippers also retained a veteran-heavy supporting cast that includes Bradley Beal, Brook Lopez, Max Strus, Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn. Younger players such as Jordan Miller, Kobe Sanders and Cam Christie will also have opportunities, while fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler represents another potential long-term building block.
Los Angeles faces significant limitations in building for the future, however. The NBA stripped the Clippers of their 2029 through 2033 first-round picks as part of the sanctions stemming from its salary-cap circumvention investigation. Their 2027 and 2028 first-round selections are also involved in swaps.
The league fined the Clippers $30 million and suspended Ballmer for one year. Basketball operations president Lawrence Frank received a six-month suspension through the 2027 trade deadline, while business president Gillian Zucker was suspended for one year.
With Frank unavailable, general manager Trent Redden and senior vice president/assistant general manager Mark Hughes are expected to handle the Clippers’ primary basketball decisions. Redden was authorized to execute the Leonard trade for the organization.
Head coach Tyronn Lue remains in place as the Clippers attempt to transition into a new era without Leonard.
ESPN’s future power rankings nevertheless placed Los Angeles 29th entering the 2026-27 season, according to Bobby Marks, with only Sacramento ranked lower. The Clippers’ stated objective, however, remains centered on competing for a playoff spot rather than beginning a long-term rebuild.
