LA Clippers 2026-27 Season Preview: Life After Kawhi, Free Agency & Fantasy Outlook
The Clippers enter 2026-27 in a full post-Kawhi Leonard rebuild, headlined by an All-Star haul of Brandon Ingram and Darius Garland acquired in back-to-back blockbuster trades.
This LA Clippers 2026-27 season preview breaks down every major storyline entering the year: the team's 2026 NBA Draft pick, its free agency departures and acquisitions, the Kawhi Leonard trade fallout and projected starting lineup, updated Vegas win total and championship odds, and Clippers fantasy basketball analysis on the players who matter most heading into DFS and season-long drafts. After trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac at last season's deadline, the Clippers finished off their roster teardown this summer by dealing longtime star Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, officially closing the book on the Leonard-George era and opening a new one built around Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram.
Clippers 2026-27 Season at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 2025-26 Record | 42-40 |
| 2025-26 Finish | 9th in West, lost in play-in tournament |
| 2026-27 Win Total | 30.5 (BetMGM) |
| Championship Odds | +50000 |
| 2026 Draft Picks | No. 5, No. 36, No. 52 |
| Biggest Addition | Brandon Ingram (Kawhi Leonard trade) |
| Key Player | Darius Garland |
| Fantasy Player to Watch | Brandon Ingram |
Los Angeles' 30.5-win total is a steep drop from last season's 42 wins, reflecting the loss of Kawhi Leonard, while the Clippers' +50000 championship odds place them firmly outside contender status for the first time since before the Leonard-George era began in 2019.
2026 NBA Draft: Clippers' Picks and Fits
Los Angeles landed the No. 5 overall pick, its highest selection in years, after acquiring Indiana's protected first-rounder in the February trade that sent Ivica Zubac to the Pacers. The pick conveyed at its best-case slot when Indiana fell outside the draft lottery's top four.
| Pick | Player | Position | School | 2026-27 Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 5 (1st Rd) | Keaton Wagler | PG/SG | Illinois | Immediate rotation guard | Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Jerry West Award winner; averaged 17.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 4.2 APG on 44.5% shooting, leading Illinois to the Final Four. Highest Illinois draft pick since Deron Williams in 2005. |
Los Angeles also held two second-round picks (Nos. 36 and 52) from the earlier Harden and Zubac trades. With no established star left on the roster, Wagler enters with a real chance to play meaningful rookie minutes right away.
Key Free Agent Departures
The Clippers' offseason was defined by subtraction: Kawhi Leonard, the centerpiece of the roster since 2019, was traded, while three other rotation pieces left in free agency:
| Player | 2025-26 Role | 2026-27 Status | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawhi Leonard | Starting forward | Traded to Toronto | Major |
| Nicolas Batum | Reserve forward | Unsigned | Moderate |
| Bogdan Bogdanovic | Reserve guard | Houston Rockets | Moderate |
| John Collins | Reserve big | Detroit Pistons (sign-and-trade) | Moderate |
| Bennedict Mathurin | Guard (acquired in Zubac trade) | New Orleans Pelicans | Moderate |
Leonard pushed for a trade after the team signaled it was unwilling to offer him an extension; Toronto, by contrast, agreed to a two-year, $115 million extension with him shortly after acquiring him. Mathurin, brought in as part of the Zubac return, was lost for nothing when the Clippers chose not to match the market for him in restricted free agency.
Key Free Agent Acquisitions and Re-Signings
| Player | Terms | Type | Fantasy/Roster Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Ingram | Via trade (from Toronto) | Trade acquisition | All-Star forward acquired in the Kawhi Leonard deal; averaged 21.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 3.7 APG for the Raptors last season and becomes the Clippers' new go-to scoring option. |
| Darius Garland | Via trade (from Cleveland, Feb. 2026) | Trade acquisition | Two-time All-Star point guard acquired for James Harden; posted 18.8 PPG and 6.7 APG across his combined Cleveland/LA season and now runs the offense full-time. |
| Gradey Dick | Via trade (from Toronto) | Trade acquisition | Young shooting guard added as part of the Leonard trade package, giving the rebuild a shooting-focused complementary piece. |
| Bradley Beal | Re-signed | Re-signed | Veteran scoring guard retained on a new deal amid the broader roster teardown. |
| Rui Hachimura | 2 yrs, $28M | Free agent addition | Three-and-D forward who left the crosstown Lakers, reportedly after L.A. declined to facilitate a sign-and-trade; adds size and shooting to the frontcourt. |
| Brook Lopez | Re-signed | Re-signed | Veteran stretch center retained for interior depth and floor spacing. |
Major Roster Moves and Projected Starting Lineup
The Clippers' offseason was the culmination of a teardown that began at last season's trade deadline. Kawhi Leonard was sent to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, and a package of draft compensation, officially ending the Leonard era. The deal was complicated further by an NBA investigation into salary-cap circumvention tied to the franchise, which resulted in the team forfeiting five future first-round picks and a $30 million fine, along with front-office suspensions. On the court, the result is a roster built around two respected but oft-traded veterans in Ingram and Garland rather than a true superstar.
Projected Starters
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| PG | Darius Garland |
| SG | Bradley Beal |
| SF | Brandon Ingram |
| PF | Rui Hachimura |
| C | Brook Lopez |
Bench Rotation
- Backcourt: Keaton Wagler, Gradey Dick
- Wing: Kris Dunn, Cam Christie
- Frontcourt: Johni Broome, Jordan Miller
With this much roster turnover and a front office now operating under outside monitoring for the next five years as part of the league's penalty, head coach Tyronn Lue faces an unusually difficult rebuilding job with the least training-camp continuity of his tenure.
Clippers Biggest Fantasy Questions
Can Brandon Ingram Return to All-Star Form as the Clear No. 1 Option?
Ingram made his first All-Star team in 2025-26 while playing behind Scottie Barnes' usage in Toronto. With no Kawhi Leonard left in Los Angeles, Ingram inherits a much larger offensive role, giving him a real path to a career year in raw scoring even if his efficiency dips slightly.
Does Darius Garland Have Top-40 Upside Running His Own Offense?
Garland is a two-time All-Star who has never had a true offense built around him the way he will in Los Angeles. His combination of scoring and elite assist totals gives him a real chance to outperform his current ADP if he stays healthy and comfortable as the unquestioned floor general.
Is There Any Fantasy Value Left on This Roster Beyond the Top Two?
Beyond Ingram and Garland, the Clippers' roster is full of aging veterans (Beal, Hachimura, Lopez) and unproven young pieces (Wagler, Dick, Broome) rather than clear difference-makers. Managers should expect touches to be genuinely up for grabs all season, with real value available for whoever wins out in training camp.
Clippers Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Key Players to Know
Four Clippers fantasy players carry meaningful weight into 2026-27 drafts, with a full roster rebuild around Ingram and Garland as the dominant storyline.
Darius Garland Fantasy Outlook
- 2026-27 ADP: 65.5
- Position: PG
- 2025-26 Stats: 18.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 6.7 APG
- Fantasy Outlook: Clear floor general with real breakout upside
- What to Watch: Health and usage as the unquestioned lead guard
Garland is a two-time All-Star who found himself sharing ball-handling duties in both Cleveland and his brief Clippers stint last season. With no other true offensive hub in Los Angeles, he inherits full control of the offense, giving him a real path to outproduce his current ADP in the mid-60s.
Brandon Ingram Fantasy Outlook
- 2026-27 ADP: 72.5
- Position: SG/SF/PF
- 2025-26 Stats: 21.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.7 APG (77 games)
- Fantasy Outlook: Locked-in first option, if healthy
- What to Watch: No timetable after a partially torn Achilles
Ingram made his first All-Star team last season and was ticketed to become the clear go-to scorer on a Clippers roster with no Kawhi Leonard left to share touches. That plan is now on hold: a partially torn Achilles tendon, discovered during offseason heel surgery, will keep him out to start the season with no firm return date. His per-game upside remains obvious whenever he's back, but draft-day price needs to account for real missed time.
Rui Hachimura Fantasy Outlook
- 2026-27 ADP: 149.5
- Position: SF/PF
- 2025-26 Stats: 11.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG (with Lakers)
- Fantasy Outlook: Efficient complementary scorer
- What to Watch: Role change from title-hopeful bench piece to featured starter
Hachimura shot 44.3% from three with the Lakers last season in a complementary role. Stepping into a much bigger role on a rebuilding Clippers team, with far less shot-creation competition, gives him a real chance to see his highest usage and counting stats in years.
Brook Lopez Fantasy Outlook
- 2026-27 ADP: 77.0
- Position: C
- 2025-26 Stats: Veteran stretch-five production
- Fantasy Outlook: Reliable blocks and three-point floor
- What to Watch: Minutes split in a full rebuild
Lopez remains one of the more unique offensive centers in the league, capable of stretching the floor from three while still protecting the rim. On a roster without a clear timeline, his fantasy value is steady if unspectacular, rooted in blocks and three-pointers rather than a featured offensive role.
Clippers Fantasy Sleepers & Breakouts
Clippers Fantasy Sleeper
Rui Hachimura: Already stepping into a bigger role after leaving a crowded Lakers rotation, Hachimura's path to touches only widened with Brandon Ingram set to miss the start of the season with a partially torn Achilles. At an ADP of 149.5, a starting forward spot with real shot volume on a rebuilding roster makes him a strong source of efficient scoring and three-point production well outside his typical draft range.
Clippers Fantasy Breakout Candidate
Keaton Wagler: The No. 5 overall pick enters a backcourt with no clear long-term answer at the two, giving him a real path to rotation minutes as a rookie. His scoring, playmaking, and shooting touch at Illinois translate well to an offense that will need secondary shot creation behind Garland and Ingram, making him a name to watch as the season progresses. With Ingram dealing with a partially torn Achilles, there are more minutes to go around for everyone else.
Data via NBA.com, ESPN, Yahoo Sports, Hoops Rumors, Spotrac, BetMGM, RotoWire, and Basketball Reference. Odds and win totals reflect lines as of mid-September 2026 and are subject to change.