LA ClippersGarland must pull the new Clippers together
Tyronn Lue has a thoroughly remodelled squad. With Ingram and Strus absent, the season plan has to be separated from the immediate solutions.
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The Los Angeles Clippers finished the 2025–2026 season with 42 wins and 40 defeats, ninth place in the West and an exit in the play-in tournament.
Lue must assemble a new team
After the departures of James Harden and Ivica Zubac in February, the Clippers have also changed faces this summer: Kawhi Leonard, Bennedict Mathurin, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanović have left the group. Darius Garland, who arrived in the Harden trade, is a foundation for Tyronn Lue. This new campaign calls for a system to be built around new creators.
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The projected pairing will have to wait
Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick arrived from Toronto. Rui Hachimura, Max Strus, who came in a five-team trade, fifth overall draft pick Keaton Wagler, Nick Martinelli and Baba Miller are also among the reinforcements. But the attacking plan cannot be described as immediately available. At media day, Ingram explained his recovery and club officials said he would not be ready for the opener. Garland's playmaking must therefore fit into makeshift combinations while several newcomers remain on the sidelines.
- →Brandon IngramBrandon Ingram · joins the squad
- →Gradey DickGradey Dick · joins the squad
- →Rui HachimuraRui Hachimura · joins the squad
- →Max StrusMax Strus · joins the squad
- →Keaton WaglerKeaton Wagler · joins the squad
- →Nick MartinelliNick Martinelli · joins the squad
- →Baba MillerBaba Miller · joins the squad
- ←Kawhi Leonard · leaves the squad
- ←Bennedict Mathurin · leaves the squad
- ←John Collins · leaves the squad
- ←Bogdan Bogdanović · leaves the squad
Attacking reference points in the current squad
2025–26 regular season, all teams combined. Selection of players with at least ten games; not an exhaustive ranking. Not all of the new arrivals produced these numbers with their current club.
Darius Garland, a reference point for the squad
16 % of the team's scoring average
28 % of the team's assist average
Ratios of 2025–2026 per-game averages; player and team have not necessarily played the same number of games. SNA estimates, not official shares of totals.
Responsibility for the perimeter players
In our projection, Garland runs the offence, with Kris Dunn as the defensive option and back-up at point guard. Wagler can compete for minutes, though his draft position does not guarantee them. Bradley Beal offers a scoring solution, subject to his availability. Dick, Hachimura and Derrick Jones Jr. provide combinations on the wings. In time, Ingram is expected to bring his creation and Strus his shooting: these are roles envisaged for the season, not a starting five announced for October.
Playmaking
On the wings
Inside
SNA season projection, not an official starting five nor a guaranteed available line-up for the opener. Absences and doubts are detailed in the dated update.
Three-point shooting, player by player
2025–2026 regular season, all teams combined. Red line: club average, 36.8%. Selection: minimum ten games and at least one attempt per game.
Availability: the picture as at 14 October
As at 14 October 2026, Ingram, Strus, Jordan Miller and Niederhäuser are listed as absent; Beal and Kobe Sanders are day-to-day. These preseason statuses and return estimates do not confirm availability for the first game. The roles envisaged above relate to the season.
The squad: 21 players
Official preseason list: 21 players. The positions follow the official categories; they do not indicate a rotation hierarchy. Being on this list guarantees neither a permanent contract nor playing time.
| Player | Status | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guards | |||||
| Keaton Wagler | Newcomer | – | – | – | – |
| Blake Wesley | – | – | – | – | |
| Bradley Beal | Out | – | – | – | – |
| Kobe Sanders | Doubtful | – | – | – | – |
| Kris Dunn | Doubtful | – | – | – | – |
| Darius Garland | 18.8 | 2.4 | 6.7 | 39.6 % | |
| Jahmyl Telfort | – | – | – | – | |
| Jordan Miller | Out | – | – | – | – |
| Cam Christie | – | – | – | – | |
| Jalen Pickett | – | – | – | – | |
| Forwards · versatile positions | |||||
| Derrick Jones Jr. | – | – | – | – | |
| Brandon Ingram | RookieOut | 21.5 | 5.6 | 3.7 | 38.2 % |
| Gradey Dick | Rookie | 6 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 30.1 % |
| Nick Martinelli | Rookie | – | – | – | – |
| Baba Miller | Rookie | – | – | – | – |
| Isaiah Jackson | – | – | – | – | |
| Rui Hachimura | Rookie | 11.5 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 44.3 % |
| Max Strus | RookieOut | – | – | – | – |
| Fletcher Loyer | – | – | – | – | |
| Centres and bigs | |||||
| Brook Lopez | 8.5 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 36 % | |
| Yanic Konan Niederhauser | Out | – | – | – | – |
2025–26 averages, all teams combined, for documented players. "–": unverified data, fewer than ten games or fewer than one three-point attempt per game. Statuses as of 15 October: preparation estimates, no guarantee for the opener. Camp group, not a final rotation.
The bench and rim protection
Brook Lopez is an inside reference point, with Isaiah Jackson and Yanic Konan Niederhäuser among the other options. The many new profiles widen Lue's choices, but they have to find common reference points. Garland's quality as a creator and the shooting available around him can help generate chances. Perimeter defence and consistency in the rotations are risks, heightened by the absences.
Key anchors
- Garland running the offence.
- New options on the wings.
- Lopez and several inside options.
Areas to work on
- Integrating a revamped team.
- Managing the announced absences.
- Stabilising the perimeter defence and rotations.
Staying in the hunt during integration
A place in the playoff race is a possible sporting objective, one to be built in a competitive West. To assess the Clippers, the first things to watch are who helps Garland create, how the ball moves out when the defence closes in, and which defensive pairings hold up. The first answers will concern the available team; they will not yet allow a verdict on the whole project with Ingram.
A place in the playoff race is a possible target, to be built during the integration phase.
The early markers are pairings and roles to watch, not an established hierarchy or a guarantee of results.
The regular season opens at home against Sacramento on 22 October at 3:30 Brazzaville time (2:30 UTC), which is the evening of 21 October locally. See the LA Clippers profile and the match page.
Thursday 22 October 2026 at 03:30, Brazzaville time · match centre
- The team’s live schedule appears here.
Countdown to tip-off.