The Brandon Ingram situation may not stay simple for long, and the Clippers could end up staring at a trade path that looks tempting on the surface but gets messy fast. The deal that sent Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Ingram and other significant assets still hasn’t been finalized, even though a full week has gone by since the news first surfaced. That delay has opened the door to speculation that LA could move Ingram again, with Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis mentioned as a possible return.
That idea comes with a split reaction. Sabonis has plenty of believers because of what he brings offensively.
His shot-making, playmaking, and rebounding all stand out, and for some, that makes him the kind of player worth chasing. But there’s another side to the argument, and it’s a loud one: Ingram just made the All-Star team, while Sabonis brings injury concerns and real defensive limitations.
For the Clippers, the case against Sabonis starts with the fit. In 2026, he is clearly a major offensive upgrade over Brook Lopez.
He gives more on offense at all three levels and helps on the glass, which matters after the signing of Rui Hachimura. But the problems show up quickly once you look at how he would function in LA’s system.
Sabonis has long been a shaky defender, and that remains the biggest issue. The Clippers need rim protection and quick feet, and that’s not where he shines. In fact, the concern is that he could be targeted so hard defensively that he’d get played off the court.
There’s also the durability question. Sabonis is 30 years old and played only 19 games last season. He’s coming off a meniscus tear and has dealt with back issues, so even if the hope is that he returns stronger, there’s plenty of uncertainty about what he’d look like in October.
Then there’s the money. Sabonis is still owed more than $94 million over the next two years, a hefty commitment for a player with that many concerns attached.
All of that is why the Clippers should think twice. Sabonis has real strengths, but the source of the debate is clear: he may not be worth moving Ingram, especially when Ingram actually fits in LA.
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The wrinkle came when the Clippers entered the picture and tried to work out a deal with their Staples Center tenant, but the sides never found common ground. With the framework falling apart, the Lakers did not cooperate on a sign-and-trade, leaving Hachimuras future to be decided in a different lane and turning a local rivalry into one more reminder of how quickly a players market can shift after a playoff run. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Fans Have Heard This DeMar DeRozan Buzz Before
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For Clippers fans, the buzz is familiar because DeRozan has surfaced in this orbit before, even if the path never quite got there. The Lakers are reportedly not pursuing him, according to ESPNs Dave McMenamin, which leaves the Clippers as the more plausible Los Angeles fit if he does end up staying on the West Coast. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Suddenly Face Real Tension Around Peyton Watsons Future
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Brooklyn has been floated only as a conceptual suitor for Watson, not an active bidder, which leaves the field a little murkier than it first appears. And with other free agents such as Larry Nance Jr., Georges Niang and Lonnie Walker IV drawing attention around the league, the Clippers interest in Watson sits in a crowded and shifting landscape where sign-and-trade mechanics, cap math and possible draft compensation could all end up mattering more than the initial buzz. [Read more 🡒]