2026-27 Season Preview: LA Clippers

The Clippers get set for a new season as a revamped roster looks to find its identity.

Offseason Recap

•

Last Season

:

42-40 (9th in West, lost in SoFi Play-In Tournament)

• Key Additions

: Johni Broome,

Gradey Dick, Rui Hachimura, Brandon Ingram, Nick Martinelli, Baba Miller, Max Strus, Keaton Wagler

Every Clippers move this offseason

Season Outlook

A new season brings an entirely new-look Clippers team.

After trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac in February, LA continued its roster overhaul this summer, parting with Kawhi Leonard, Bennedict Mathurin, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanović.

Headlining the new core are Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram. Garland arrived in February as part of the Harden deal, while Ingram joins LA fresh off an All-Star season in Toronto, where he led the team in scoring with 21.5 points per game. With Garland’s playmaking and Ingram’s shot-making, LA has two proven creators to lean on offensively. But they won’t be alone.

This year’s No. 5 overall pick, Keaton Wagler, gives LA an exciting young piece in the backcourt. Veteran sharpshooter Max Strus (acquired in a five-team trade this offseason) will help stretch the floor, while fellow newcomers Rui Hachimura and Gradey Dick add depth to a rotation that features Brook Lopez, Bradley Beal, Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn.

But with so many new pieces, how will it all fit together? That’s the challenge facing head coach Tyronn Lue as the Clips look to navigate a loaded West.

Breakout Candidate: Max Strus

Max Strus has already established himself as a premier outside shooter. But could he be the key that unlocks this Clippers offense?

After missing the first 67 games last season with Cleveland due to a broken foot, Strus returned red-hot, shooting 40.2% from 3-point range.

The season prior, Strus shot 38.6% from beyond the arc as the Cavaliers finished 2nd in the NBA in made 3-pointers (15.9 per game) en route to the East’s No. 1 seed. His point guard that season? Darius Garland, who assisted Strus more than anyone that year.

Now, the two reunite in LA, and Strus’ ability to stretch the floor could prove critical.

While Garland can create from all three levels, Ingram operates primarily from inside the arc. Nearly a third (32.5%) of his made field goals came from the midrange last season, where he shot 47.1%.

With Ingram drawing defenders inward and a proven rapport with Garland, Strus could have plenty of opportunities to let it fly from deep. That could lead to big numbers for the seven-year vet, and a big boost for LA.

1 Number To Know

13.8 —

The Clippers were 13.8 points per 100 possessions better with Kawhi Leonard on the floor (plus-7.5) than they were with him off the floor (minus-6.3) last season. That was the third-biggest on-off differential among 263 players who played at least 1,000 minutes for a single team.

The Clippers will need to undergo a reinvention this season. They had 10 guys play at least 10 minutes in their season opener a year ago, and only three of the 10 (Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr. and Brook Lopez) are still on the roster. And they relied on Leonard (who played 2,000 minutes for them for the second time in seven years) almost as much as they ever had. The bigger on-off differential was on offense, but he also remained an impact defender.

— John Schuhmann

5 Must-See Matchups

Oct. 23: Clippers vs. Lakers —

It won’t take long for the first Battle of LA. In just their second game of the season, the new-look Clippers get an early test against Luka Dončić and the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

Nov. 1: Clippers vs. Warriors —

Last April, Golden State ended the Clippers’ season with a win in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament. Just over six months later, the two in-state rivals meet again for an early-season rematch.

Nov. 2: Raptors vs. Clippers —

Kawhi Leonard’s return to LA. After spending seven years with the Clippers, Leonard will enter the Intuit Dome for the first time as a visitor. Meanwhile, former Raptors Ingram and Dick get their first matchup against Toronto.

Dec. 18: Clippers vs. Heat —

A week before Christmas, the Clippers take the national stage against another squad that made a splash this summer: the Miami Heat, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Dec. 31: Clippers vs. Cavaliers —

To close 2026, Garland will make his first return to Cleveland, where he spent his first seven NBA seasons and earned two All-Star nods.

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Complete Regular Season Schedule

Preseason Storylines

Garland and Ingram headline the Clippers’ overhauled roster. But who will join them in the starting lineup?

That’s one of the biggest questions facing Tyronn Lue this preseason. Dunn started 68 games for LA last year, while Jones Jr. and Lopez each started 40-plus. Beal also returns, giving Lue several experienced options alongside the team’s offseason additions.

Then there’s Wagler. The No. 5 overall pick enters his first NBA training camp with a chance to earn an immediate role, potentially injecting some youth into a veteran-heavy rotation.

With only three preseason games on tap, Lue will have a limited window to test different combinations before settling on an Opening Night lineup.

Complete Preseason Schedule