After a disappointing first-round exit in this year’s playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers entered the offseason with several questions about their core. Although they were undoubtedly still Kawhi Leonard‘s team, the arrival of young players such as Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin, along with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, meant that the Clippers were at a crossroads.
Having drafted Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick, the Clippers demonstrated a commitment to building their young core, effectively signaling that Kawhi Leonard’s time in Los Angeles was coming to an end. Now, with Leonard being traded to the Toronto Raptors, L.A. has officially entered a new era.
It is worth noting that Leonard’s departure marks the third significant trade that Los Angeles has made in this calendar year. From Ivica Zubac being packaged with Kobe Brown in a trade to the Indiana Pacers to James Harden’s move to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles has systematically worked toward getting younger. On that note, we examine all the Clippers’ returns from their latest transactions.
Clippers Departures:
– Kawhi Leonard
– James Harden
– Ivica Zubac
– Kobe Brown
Clippers Incoming:
– Darius Garland
– Bennedict Mathurin
– Isaiah Jackson
– Brandon Ingram
– Gradey Dick
– 4 first-round picks: 2026 first-round pick (Keaton Wagler, IND), 2029 first-round pick (IND), 2031 first-round pick (TOR), 2033 first-round pick (TOR),
– 2027 first-round pick swap (TOR)
– 4 second-round picks: 2026 second-round pick (Narcisse Ngoy, CLE), 2028 second-round pick (DAL), 2030 second-round pick (TOR), 2033 second-round pick (TOR)
The Los Angeles Clippers parted with some significant figures.
Kawhi Leonard’s addition ahead of the 2019-20 season sparked hope in Los Angeles’ ability to contend for a title for the first time since the Lob City era. With Leonard being paired with Paul George, the core boasted the potential to make a run at winning it all. Unfortunately, this was repeatedly cut short by injuries and playoff shortcomings.
George was later replaced by James Harden, who arrived from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2023. During his brief tenure with the Clippers, Harden displayed promise as a running mate next to Leonard.
Although his first season was largely disappointing, the 11-time All-Star gradually turned things around, posting averages of 21.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in L.A. Despite this, his errors in the playoffs proved costly.
When gauging the results, it is apparent that neither Leonard nor Harden achieved much with the Clippers. Thus, parting with them may not be as bad, especially considering what they gained in return.
From Harden’s departure, the Clippers received Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
Garland is safely positioned as L.A.’s point guard of the future. As an elite playmaker with remarkable scoring ability, Garland possesses the star power to lead the Clippers’ offense and make them highly competitive.
Last season, Garland battled through pre-existing injuries, limiting his availability. Still, in 45 appearances, he posted 18.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on 46.0% shooting from the field and 39.6% from three-point range. The Clippers can look forward to building upon this.
The Clippers also used the second-round pick they acquired from the trade to draft Narcisse Ngoy. The French forward may not have gained much attention from scouts, but his averages of 10.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game in the second division of France’s professional league could be promising.
Following the Harden trade, the Clippers came away with a haul of assets after trading Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. The arrival of Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, along with two first-round picks, a first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks, is monumental for L.A.’s future.
At 28, Ingram is widely considered an elite offensive threat. With averages of 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on 47.7% shooting from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc, he is more than capable of becoming the offensive focal point for Los Angeles.
Along with Ingram, 22-year-old Gradey Dick also adds value as a capable swingman off the bench. Although he averaged only 6.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game last season, while shooting 41.9% from the field and 30.1% from three-point range, there is reason to believe he could break out of his slump in a different environment.
While these arrivals will be celebrated to some extent, the Clippers’ fan base will struggle to get over Ivica Zubac‘s departure.
Although the trade brought over Bennedict Mathurin (17.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.4 APG) and the first-round pick that enabled the Clippers to draft Keaton Wagler, losing Zubac came as a shock to many fans.
Given how reliable he had been, with averages of 14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game last season, Zubac was one of the few players whom fans hoped would remain part of the Clippers’ long-term plans. Unfortunately, with Los Angeles embracing a new direction, it could be argued that trading Zubac was necessary.
As constructed, Los Angeles’ core features some tremendous young talent in the backcourt. However, given the desperate need to upgrade their frontcourt, the Clippers would be advised to be more aggressive in their outlook on roster construction this summer.
