The Clippers’ latest depth chart tells a pretty clear story: this is a team trying to move on from the old formula.
For years during the Kawhi Leonard era, Los Angeles leaned heavily on veterans around its star core, banking on experience to carry the load in a league that keeps getting younger and faster. Now Leonard’s time in LA is done, or at least it should be once the Aspiration investigation is done, and the roster looks built with a different mindset. There’s more youth, more upside, and a lot more room for this group to grow into something dangerous.
That shift starts at point guard, where the Clippers may have their strongest position group. Darius Garland headlines it, and at 26 with two All-Star nods already, he gives them a legitimate top-end floor general.
Behind him is Keaton Wagler, a top rookie in the class, and Sean Pedulla, who won G-League Rookie of the Year last season. That’s a deep, young group with real promise.
The shooting guard spot brings a different kind of balance. Kris Dunn is projected to start, and he gives the Clippers exactly what they need next to Garland: defense, enough shooting to keep defenses honest, and steady two-way value.
Jordan Miller, now 26, is next after a strong season and a long-term contract this summer, while Cam Christie slots in as another young piece in the mix. With that kind of depth, the Clippers look much better positioned than they did a year ago.
Small forward is another area where the talent jumps off the page. Brandon Ingram, 29 and a two-time All-Star, now takes over the role Leonard once held.
Derrick Jones Jr., also 29, gives them a real chance at a strong bench weapon, and the source of the concern here is simple: health. If both players can stay on the floor for at least 65 games, the Clippers could become a team opponents would rather avoid.
Rookie Nick Martinelli is there as the developmental piece, waiting for his turn.
At power forward, the group is thinner, but not empty. Rui Hachimura and Kobe Sanders are the projected options, and both are still young enough to fit what the Clippers are trying to build.
They can both shoot, which matters plenty in this setup, and Sanders is expected to make a strong sophomore leap. That would only strengthen a frontcourt that already has some offensive versatility.
Center is where the future really starts to show. Brook Lopez is the veteran anchor, which is a little unconventional for a team emphasizing youth, but the depth behind him is what stands out.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser had a handful of exciting rookie moments, while Isaiah Jackson, 24, and recently drafted Baba Miller add more athleticism and defensive bite. The result is a center rotation loaded with paint presence and upside, and when everyone is healthy, it’s the deepest spot on the roster.
That’s the bigger takeaway from this updated depth chart. The Clippers seem to have recognized the cost of not having enough youth around Leonard and adjusted.
There’s more speed, more burst, more athleticism, and more promise across the board. For a team entering a new era, that’s a pretty strong place to start.
In Other News...
Clippers Kawhi Mess Just Put The Toronto Deal In Serious Doubt
The NBAs investigation into the alleged salary-cap circumvention scheme involving the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, his uncle Dennis and Aspiration has already done more than create another league headache. It has frozen a trade framework that would have sent Leonard back to Toronto, and now the Raptors are left waiting on a deal that once looked like a clean path to a reunion with the player who helped deliver their title.
Brian Windhorst said Toronto still wants to complete the trade, but the terms may not stay intact if the leagues review leads to real consequences for Leonard. The Raptors have interest in getting the deal done, yet they may have to reopen or revise it depending on how the NBA handles the situation, which leaves one of the offseasons most intriguing moves hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Keaton Waglers Clippers Debut Raised A Bigger Concern Than Fans Expected
Keaton Waglers first summer league run for the Clippers offered a useful first look, but not much comfort. Against the Kings, he finished with seven points, two rebounds and one assist in 27 minutes, and the box score only hinted at the bigger issue: he never looked fully settled, and his 1-for-7 shooting night reflected how often he struggled to find clean answers against NBA-caliber length and pressure.
What stood out most was how hard it was for Wagler to create any real space or rhythm. For a player the Clippers are hoping can grow into more than a developmental flier, the debut felt more like a reminder of how much work remains than a glimpse of immediate help, and that makes the rest of his summer worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]