"It has been a downright terrible opening stretch for the 2025-26 LA Clippers. Between the Aspiration scandal, the ensuing salary cap circumvention investigation involving Kawhi Leonard and this week's messy public breakup with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, there's been a steady stream of bad news coming from Inglewood. Not to mention the Clippers are 6-16 and 13th in the Western Conference, a disastrous start given a welcome respite by Wednesday's blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks."
"Remember: The Clippers infamously owe their 2026 unprotected first-round pick ... to Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti and the defending champs. "We might need to get everyone in the league on a Zoom and brainstorm some ideas [to fix the Clippers]," one executive joked. "Invite everybody except Sam." The fact the Clippers don't control their draft pick makes this situation far more complicated. If they did, the process might be simple: Sink to the bottom and hope for lottery luck in a loaded 2026 NBA draft."
The Los Angeles Clippers started the 2025-26 season 6-16 and 13th in the Western Conference amid multiple off-court problems, including the Aspiration scandal, a salary-cap circumvention investigation tied to Kawhi Leonard, and a public breakup with Chris Paul. The franchise owes its 2026 unprotected first-round pick to Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti and the defending champions, removing the option of deliberately losing to secure a high draft slot. League insiders identified three potential paths forward. One suggested approach is to use more than $50 million in expiring contracts as trade fodder to acquire contributors despite apron-era constraints.
Read at ESPN.com
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