The Clippers got a busy day’s worth of roster housekeeping done, and the biggest move was keeping Brook Lopez in the fold. Los Angeles picked up Lopez’s team option for $9.187 million, while declining Bogdan Bogdanovic’s $16.02 million option and Nic Batum’s $5.881 million option.
The team also turned down Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders’ options, but both players were extended qualifying offers, setting them up as restricted free agents. Bennedict Mathurin received a qualifying offer as well.
Lopez’s return makes sense in a summer light on center help. The source material describes this year’s free-agent class at the position as weak, and notes that Lopez remains a positive presence in the locker room.
He could also help bridge the gap while Yanic Konan Niederhauser recovers from Lisfranc surgery. Even so, there’s a concern that Lopez could be asked to do too much again if the Clippers don’t add someone ahead of him on the depth chart in free agency.
Bogdanovic’s exit had been expected for a while. The real question was whether it would come through a trade or in free agency, and the Clippers apparently couldn’t find a trade partner.
That closes out a brief and uneven Clippers run for Bogdanovic, who arrived in 2025 with plenty of promise and has shown how dangerous he can be when he’s in rhythm. The source material points to the Nuggets as an early favorite to land him, with Nikola Jokic as a possible fit alongside his fellow countryman.
Batum’s situation is the most intriguing of the three veteran decisions. The reporting around him has suggested he doesn’t want to play anywhere else in the NBA, so declining his option may not be the end of the road.
The expectation here is that he could return on a veteran minimum deal as a locker room presence near the end of the bench. Retirement has been floated before, and another team remains possible, but the current read is that he’s still likely to be back with the Clippers.
As for Miller and Sanders, the expectation is that the Clippers want both on multi-year contracts. Since both are restricted free agents, the assumption is that they’ll be back on reasonable deals, even if the exact market for either player is unclear.
Another notable decision around the league came from Bradley Beal, who declined his $5.6 million player option. That was described as a surprise given that he missed almost the entire season, is on the wrong side of 30, and struggled in the limited action he saw last year.
Still, the source material suggests he may have sensed the Clippers were getting younger and also recognized that there should be a place for him on a contender, even if it comes at the veteran minimum. The Heat, Warriors, and Celtics were named as possible landing spots.
Multiple Clippers reporters have said the team will look into bringing Beal back, though the source material questions that idea.
For now, the Clippers have handled a chunk of their business, even with the Kawhi rumors still hanging around. Free agency opens tomorrow, and John Collins and Bennedict Mathurin are among the biggest names available. More clarity on both is expected in the coming days.
In Other News...
Clippers May Have Found A Summer League Shooter Worth Watching
Following the 2026 NBA Draft, the Summer League is once again giving undrafted players a chance to make an early impression, and the Clippers have one of the more intriguing shooters in that mix. Loyer is headed to Los Angeles on an Exhibit 10 deal, which gives the organization a low-risk look at a player whose game is built around spacing and perimeter confidence.
For the Clippers, the appeal is obvious: Summer League starts July 9, and every possession is a scouting report in motion. Loyer should get plenty of chances to show whether his shooting can translate against NBA athletes, and he will do it in a setting where clean looks, quick decisions and simple fit can matter as much as raw scoring. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers May Have Found A New Answer To Their Biggest Roster Hole
The Clippers have been searching for help in the middle, and a recent report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype suggests one possible answer has surfaced in free agent center Jock Landale. Landale spent time with multiple teams last season, including the Grizzlies and Hawks, and his ability to contribute inside while stretching the floor has made him an appealing name as Los Angeles looks to patch a clear roster need.
Landale's path through last season was anything but ordinary, with trades and quick turnarounds forcing him to adapt on the fly. He still managed to put together productive stretches, and the Clippers are clearly intrigued enough to keep tabs on what he might bring if they decide to add another big man, even if nothing is official yet. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Young Core
The Clippers have made a clear call on a few young pieces of their roster, extending qualifying offers to Bennedict Mathurin, Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders to keep all three in restricted free agency. Los Angeles also declined the 2026-27 team options on Miller and Sanders, with the expectation that the club will work toward multiyear deals for both players rather than let them drift into unrestricted free agency.
For a team that has spent plenty of time weighing how to balance short-term competitiveness with longer-term flexibility, the move suggests the young core is still part of the conversation. The qualifying offers give the Clippers first crack if another team comes calling with an offer sheet, and the front office now has a bit of leverage as free agency settles in around a trio it appears reluctant to lose. [Read more 🡒]