LA Clippers' Top 3 Priorities During 2026 NBA Offseason
The LA Clippers were dreadful early in the year, unstoppable in the middle, blew it up at the trade deadline, and then battled back to .500 to earn a play-in berth. It's been a journey, but the most important issue is happening off the floor.
Following reporting from Pablo Torre and others, the NBA is investigating allegations that the Clippers' arrangement involving Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration may have violated league rules on player compensation, and the results of that process will dictate the franchise's direction.
The Clippers have other offseason priorities, but the outcome of the investigation will dictate everything else they do.
3. Starting Center
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The Clippers loved Ivica Zubac, but with the package the Indiana Pacers offered and the need to pivot younger, L.A. made the sacrifice. Finding his replacement is mandatory this offseason, be it through trade, free agency or the draft.
Unfortunately, rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser was lost for the season with a foot injury. He showed promise and would have benefited from extended minutes late in the season. The Clippers will continue to develop him next season, but reinforcements and depth are a must.
Assuming Mathurin returns alongside guard Darius Garland, the Clippers need a starting-caliber center. Along with Leonard (assuming he's still on the roster), the team has wings such as Derrick Jones Jr. and Jordan Miller. Center is the clear need.
Honorable mention for the Clippers: the draft lottery could reward LA with the Indiana Pacers' selection, but only if it's in the 5-9 range. Luck will play a part in reshaping the franchise this summer.
2. Pay Bennedict Mathurin
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The Clippers sent Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for a couple of first-round picks and Isaiah Jackson, but Mathurin was the best player back in the deal. Paying him should be a priority, regardless of what happens with Leonard.
Mathurin, as a restricted free agent, has a $27.6 million cap hold. That's a reasonable expectation for his starting salary, in the $20-$30 million range. Teams who could try to pry him away with cap room include the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, but the Clippers have the right of first refusal.
Through 24 games, Mathurin averaged 28.8 minutes, almost entirely off the bench, scoring 18 points a game. He's struggled to hit his three-point shot (20.3 percent), but there's hope he can improve based on his 37.2 percent through 28 games with the Pacers.
If Mathurin cannot find an offer sheet and the Clippers aren't ready to reward him with a long-term deal, Mathurin's one-year qualifying offer is $12.3 million, after which he'd be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
1. Kawhi Leonard's Future
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Dating back to the initial Pablo Torre Finds Out episode in September, the Clippers have faced serious scrutiny over allegations that their endorsement arrangement involving Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration, a now‑bankrupt green bank, functioned as a no‑show deal.
The Clippers have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, and the NBA has not yet announced its findings, but if the league ultimately determines the organization violated its rules, potential penalties could include voiding Leonard's contract, loss of draft picks, leadership suspensions and fines.
So, it's a big deal for L.A. The team needs to know if it loses its All-Star and the $50.3 million his contract takes up on the books for 2026-27.
Without their best player, the Clippers would be pushed more deeply into a rebuild. By getting off the contracts of Bogdan Bogdanvović, Brook Lopez, Nicolas Batum, and Kris Dunn, the franchise can reach about $45 million in cap room. That jumps to near $72 million without restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin.
Or the NBA could choose to slap the Clippers on the wrist. Then the team must decide whether Leonard is worth reinvesting in or whether they are better served trading him as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on X @EricPincus and Bluesky.
