HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrates with teammates after making the go-ahead shot against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center on February 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
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The Los Angeles Clippers finally learned their fate from the NBA on Wednesday.
A year after Pablo Torre first reported on a questionable sponsorship deal between Aspiration and Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, the NBA presented its findings and handed out a punishment that was meant to be a punitive warning to the rest of the league.
As a result, the Clippers will now forfeit five separate first-round draft picks from 2029 to 2033. Additionally, the team has been fined $30 million, with additional executive penalties and suspensions, including a year-long ban for outspoken owner Steve Ballmer.
The five picks match the harshest penalty the NBA has ever issued, when the league stripped the Minnesota Timberwolves of five first-round picks for cap circumvention as well. Two of those picks were later returned. So far, there’s no indication that can or will happen in the Clippers’ case.
But what does Los Angeles do in the meantime?
With extremely limited avenues available to fight or appeal the ruling, the Clippers primary focus should now be around how to construct a viable roster in the meantime. But what does that look like?
Completing The Kawhi Trade
First and foremost, the ruling should pave the way for the Clippers’ trading Leonard (back) to the Toronto Raptors, as originally planned back in June.
That deal would send Kawhi to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two future second-round picks also in 2031 and 2033). And if all goes as planned there, it’s already a significant step toward L.A. getting past these penalties.
The two future firsts help offset two of the forfeited picks, and while Gradey Dick’s sophomore campaign saw him score an underwhelming six points per game (after putting up 14.4 per as a rookie), he’s still just 22 years old.
In the short-term, Ingram can replace some of Leonard’s scoring. With the Raptors last season, Ingram tallied 21.5 points per game, while Leonard 27.9 per (the highest total of his pro career). But in the long-term, Ingram is six years younger, makes $10 million less than Kawhi, and is only on the books through the 2027-28 season if he picks up his player option.
That’s an extra year compared to Leonard’s expiring deal, but the $41.9 million he’ll be due with the player option is relatively moveable, especially for lesser roster players and/or draft capital.
PORTLAND, OREGON – APRIL 10: Darius Garland #10 of the Los Angeles Clippers attempts a layup defended by Donovan Clingan #23 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half at Moda Center on April 10, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
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Clearing The Cap Table Quickly
Over the last year or so, the Clippers have actually managed to clear future cap space for a potential deal to bring another star into the fold.
Whether or not they can still attract top talent now in the wake of these fines and an embarrassing scandal are up for debate. But they’ll certainly have the cap space to do so via free agency.
Assuming the Leonard deal goes through, the only players currently guaranteed to be under contract in 2027-28 for significant salaries are Ingram ($41.9 million), Darius Garland ($44.9 million), 2026 first-rounder Keaton Wagler ($10.2 million) and Isaiah Jackson ($6.4 million). Bradley Beal also has a player option, which he’ll likely exercise at $6.7 million. But anyone else is on the books for under $5 million per year.
Big-market teams in this situation would typically package some draft capital to acquire a star to fill the space. But without many picks right now, the Clippers could go the free agent route to find a star – assuming they’re willing to come, of course.
While there’s still opportunities for extensions, the 2027 free agency class could be headlined by Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns.
The team’s pick situation right now may make the Clippers’ roster building situation look like a difficult proposition, since veteran talent is more expensive to acquire than drafting rookie players. But even before any prospective trades, L.A. has the room to add free agents who want to play at the still sparkling new Intuit Dome.
Acquiring Draft Capital
As alluded to above, there’s a path available for the Clippers to ride out the coming year, let the decks clear on their own and see what they can do during the 2027 free agency period. Or Los Angeles could actively speed up the process by moving as many players as possible for draft capital, and building around a potential core of Wagler and maybe Gradey Dick.
Dealing Ingram and Garland frees up a ton of space for free agency pursuits, if they come to fruition. But importantly, they likely bring in some draft capital, too.
The Clippers would obviously want firsts if they can get them. But even if not, acquiring young and cost-controlled players, and/or a bevy of second-rounders provides the team with the ammunition to trade up into the first round of these future drafts.
In the shorter term, acquired picks could also help facilitate trades in lieu of free agent pick-ups.
Jokic and Towns were mentioned as possible 2027 targets above. But you can add Bam Adebayo, Luka Doncic and others to that list in 2028 if extensions aren’t reached on those fronts.
While L.A. is in an unenviable spot from a roster-building standpoint, this doesn’t have to be a death sentence, either. They’re not committed to an overpriced veteran core, have contract flexibility and the market to still entice players. It might just take some creativity (albeit, on the right side of the NBA’s cap rules this time).
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