The Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the most active teams this summer, and their latest acquisition of veteran wing Max Strus adds shooting and defense to a roster already undergoing significant change. But with the Kawhi Leonard trade still pending the league's investigation, the Clippers continue to build while analysts point to several issues that need addressing before the season begins.
A Roster in Flux
Strus arrived from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a multi-team trade also involving the Denver Nuggets. Heavy. reports the deal was a five-team trade, while Yardbarker describes it as centered on Peyton Watson heading to Cleveland, with the Clippers adding Strus for a second-round pick. Sports Illustrated notes the Clippers absorbed Strus's contract into their trade exception.
The 30-year-old is a proven three-point shooter and dependable perimeter defender, traits that fit well alongside the Clippers' athletic core. He missed most of last season due to injury, appearing in just a dozen regular-season games for the Cavaliers, but returned for the playoffs and reprised his role as a two-way contributor.
The Clippers have continued adjusting personnel even as they await the resolution of the Kawhi Leonard investigation, which must conclude before that trade can be finalized. The team has also been active in other ways, including re-signing Bradley Beal, a decision one Sports Illustrated article describes as "head-scratching."
The Numbers Game: 17 to 15
The Clippers currently have 17 players under contract, and they must reduce that to 15 before the start of the season. This creates what NBA insider Brett Siegel, speaking on the Clutch Scoops podcast as reported by Heavy., called a "roster crunch." Siegel said the team will look to "dump some salary between now and training camp and start of the season."
The roster is notably backcourt-heavy. The Clippers have a deep group of guards including Darius Garland, Keaton Wagler, Max Strus, Bradley Beal, Kobe Sanders, and Kris Dunn, along with Gradey Dick and Cam Christie. Sports Illustrated notes that even if Christie, on a non-guaranteed contract, is let go, there are still too many guards competing for minutes.
Trade Candidates Emerge
Derrick Jones Jr. has emerged as a potential trade candidate, according to Siegel, who said on the podcast that Jones "is available in trade talks there for the Clippers." Jones averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over 50 games last season. His athleticism and defensive versatility make him a useful rotation forward, and he brings significant postseason experience from his time with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2023-24 season, when he started all 22 playoff games.
Kris Dunn is another potential trade candidate, carrying a $5.6 million expiring contract. Sports Illustrated speculates that the Clippers could package Dunn, possibly with a first-round pick, to acquire frontcourt help. A combination of Dunn and Isaiah Jackson would combine for $12.7 million in salary.
The Center Problem
Perhaps the most pressing need is at center. Sports Illustrated describes the Clippers' center rotation as one of the worst in the league, and upgrading that position is widely cited as the top priority. The team intends to start Brook Lopez, but the 38-year-old is slow-footed and lacks mobility, and analysts suggest he should be a backup at this stage of his career.
The frontcourt depth behind Lopez is thin. Yanic Konan Niederhauser will miss the start of the season due to foot surgery, Isaiah Jackson is undersized for center, and Johni Broome is inexperienced. Rui Hachimura, who arrived in a trade, is the only established power forward, but he is not considered very physical or athletic.
The Clippers lost several frontcourt players over the past six months, including Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Ivica Zubac, and replaced them with Brandon Ingram and Hachimura. Sports Illustrated characterizes Ingram and Hachimura as finesse players who don't play through contact, and notes the Clippers were one of the worst-rebounding teams last season.
Shooting Strength, Size Weakness
One clear strength of the new-look roster is shooting. With Strus in the lineup, the Clippers will likely have five shooters on the floor to start games, enabling five-out spacing. Hachimura is an upgrade over John Collins in shooting, Wagler projects as a high-level shooter, Garland is an elite off-the-dribble threat, and Lopez is a floor-spacing center. Gradey Dick and Beal provide bench shooting.
The only non-shooter in the projected rotation is the backup center, whether that be Niederhauser or Jackson.
However, the team's size and physicality are concerns. The James Harden-for-Darius Garland swap made the Clippers smaller and less physical, and without a reliable rim protector and defensive rebounder, analysts argue the defense will struggle.
What's Next?
Several outlets suggest the Clippers are not done making moves. They have to balance the roster, and trading for a center is the most commonly cited priority. Sports Illustrated suggests the Clippers could target a quality center like Daniel Gafford or Goga Bitadze, possibly through a Bennedict Mathurin sign-and-trade or a package involving veterans.
Yardbarker, meanwhile, takes a speculative view, suggesting Strus could be a trade candidate before the deadline given his expiring $16.6 million contract. The outlet notes the Clippers' playoff chances in the Western Conference are slim, and a "fire sale" could be impending. Strus's deal makes him an appealing asset, and the decision to participate in the Peyton Watson multi-team trade is "aging well."
The Clippers are clearly trying to compete next season, as GM Lawrence Frank stated in official remarks. But without Kawhi Leonard, they lack the top-end talent to make serious playoff noise, and the roster as constructed has real imbalances that may require further trades to resolve.