The Clippers haven’t exactly dominated the offseason headlines, but that’s part of why this summer has been so easy to miss. While other teams made the kind of splashy moves that grab attention right away, Lawrence Frank has quietly put together a strong stretch of roster work for LA.
That’s the big story here: the Clippers didn’t need to reinvent everything to improve. They finished ninth in the Western Conference last season, a respectable result given the way things started, and Frank has spent the offseason attacking the areas that could actually move the team forward.
The most notable change was moving on from Kawhi Leonard. If the trade goes through, the Clippers will be sending out a 35-year-old Leonard and bringing back Brandon Ingram, who is seven years younger. They also added Gradey Dick, a 22-year-old worth the gamble, along with a meaningful haul of draft capital spread across the coming years.
That alone would make for a solid summer. But the Clippers didn’t stop there.
They also landed Rui Hachimura, and at $14 million per year, that looks like a bargain. His shooting gives the roster a real boost from deep. Hachimura hit 44.3% from three in the regular season on 3.9 attempts per game, then jumped to 56.9% in the playoffs while taking 5.8 attempts a night.
The front office also kept Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller in the fold, while Bogdan Bogdanovic was let go. On top of that, the Clippers added summer league standouts Keaton Wagler, Baba Miller, and Nick Martinelli through the draft.
There’s still a chance the summer gets even better if the Clippers somehow land Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga. Even without that, Frank has already done enough to put LA in a better spot now and down the line.
In Other News...
Clippers Linked To Four Team Trade That Could Fix Their Wing Depth
A speculative four-team trade idea making the rounds would give the Clippers a very different look on the wing, with Bleacher Reports Greg Swartz floating a deal that sends Peyton Watson to Cleveland in a sign-and-trade with Denver and moves Dennis Schroder to Detroit. For Los Angeles, the appeal is straightforward: the proposal would bring in Max Strus and Cameron Johnson, two players who could help address a roster need that has lingered as the team looks for more reliable depth on the perimeter.
The broader framework would also send draft picks and veteran role players back to Denver, giving the Nuggets a fuller return while tying the whole concept together financially. It is still only a hypothetical, not an official transaction, but the structure is the kind of multi-team machinery that can make sense on paper for a Clippers club trying to balance fit, depth and cost as it keeps exploring ways to strengthen the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Bennedict Mathurin Just Reached A Clippers Crossroads That Could Get Awkward
Bennedict Mathurins restricted free agency has put the Clippers in a familiar spot, balancing the urge to keep talent with the reality of a tight payroll. The qualifying offer on the table is worth $8.8 million, and for a player still trying to establish his long-term market, the short-term security could come with a bigger opportunity attached.
For Mathurin, the cleanest path may be to take that deal, bet on himself for another season and try to reach unrestricted free agency next summer with more leverage. The Clippers, meanwhile, are in no hurry to rush into a larger commitment, preferring to see more of him in their system before deciding whether he is worth a more significant investment. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Just Found Another Way To Stay Dangerous In The East
The Clippers picked up some extra draft capital and a young forward in a small but useful transaction with Philadelphia, a reminder that even the quieter moves around the margins can matter for a team trying to keep its roster flexible. For Los Angeles, the deal came with a second-round pick attached, and it fits the kind of low-risk, asset-building approach that can pay off later even if it does not change the rotation right away.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, used the trade to keep its books in order after loading up on major talent, opening a roster spot and preserving the cap room it needed to stay below the first apron. The maneuver helped the Sixers bring in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while still managing the rest of a crowded financial picture, which is the sort of housekeeping that can decide how far a contender can keep pushing. [Read more 🡒]