The LA Clippers are coping with one of many roughest opening stretches in franchise historical past. At 6-16 and sitting thirteenth within the Western Convention, the workforce has blended poor outcomes with a pile of off-court turmoil. The Aspiration scandal, the salary-cap circumvention investigation involving Kawhi Leonard, and the general public cut up with Chris Paul created a relentless wave of dangerous information. A blowout win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday eased the strain, however solely barely.
The Clippers additionally owe their 2026 unprotected first-round decide to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, which makes shedding much more expensive. As one government joked, “We would have to get everybody within the league on a Zoom and brainstorm some concepts… Invite all people besides Sam.”
Path 1: Add Gamers and Attempt to Salvage the Season
A number of insiders consider the Clippers ought to use their greater than $50 million in expiring contracts to seek out assist. One rival government instructed ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “They will simply look ahead to a blue mild particular.”
The roster lacks athleticism, but James Harden and Kawhi Leonard have produced stable numbers. A West scout stated, “They aren’t the issue.” One other scout floated Zach LaVine as a goal, noting his scoring punch and athleticism. LaVine additionally holds a $49 million participant choice for subsequent season and may very well be acquired with out damaging the workforce’s 2027 cap-space targets.
Path 2: Discover Buying and selling Stars
Some executives argue that LA ought to think about a reset just like what the Brooklyn Nets did a decade in the past. “I’d be making an attempt to eliminate the outdated guys,” one East government stated. However sources famous the challenges. Harden has “perhaps impartial worth,” whereas Kawhi has “destructive worth” as a consequence of accidents and the continuing investigation.
Free-agency flexibility stays a motivator. Shifting Harden or Leonard to groups with cap room may assist the Clippers reset their repeater-tax clock.
Path 3: Keep the Course
Veteran insiders leaned towards persistence. “They don’t seem to be as dangerous as their report says they’re,” a longtime scout stated. A number of groups forward of LA may shift into stealth tanking later within the season. With Ty Lue teaching and Ivica Zubac taking part in effectively, front-office voices consider the Clippers nonetheless have sufficient expertise to climb the standings.
As one other West scout put it, “It’s a must to maintain… It’s bought to be higher than this.”
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