The Clippers roster is almost mapped out for next season, with 12 likely full players, three open roster spots and one open two-way spot after the 2026 NBA Draft. Kawhi Leonard’s future now sits over everything else, because a trade would reset the whole construction.
Kawhi Leonard and the open spots
Six players already have fully guaranteed contracts for next season: Kawhi Leonard, Darius Garland, Derrick Jones Jr., Isaiah Jackson, Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Jordan Miller. Kris Dunn and Cam Christie are on partially guaranteed contracts, Kobe Sanders has a team option that looks like a lock to be picked up, and Bradley Beal has a player option he would seem to take unless he finds a better offer elsewhere.
That leaves the Clippers with three more team options on Brook Lopez, Nicolas Batum and Bogdan Bogdanovic, plus one unrestricted free agent in John Collins and one restricted free agent in Bennedict Mathurin. Only Sean Pedulla is already under contract on a two-way deal for next year, while Keaton Wagler is expected to land on a standard first-round rookie scale deal, Baba Miller is expected to get a true NBA roster deal, Nick Martinelli is projected for a two-way, and Narcisse N’Goy is expected to be stashed at Auburn.
Frontcourt decisions for The Clippers
That structure is why the frontcourt stands out as the obvious area of need. Yanic’s injury and Baba Miller probably not being ready for NBA rotation minutes leave the group thin unless more of the veteran options come back.
Bringing back John Collins and Brook Lopez would pretty much round out the roster. If those moves happen, the Clippers can keep the rest of the offseason focused on the smaller contract calls rather than scrambling for volume.
Leonard changes everything
The complication is Leonard. Trade rumors around him have picked up steam in recent days, and the article’s roster math says a deal would completely shake things up, leaving only Garland and Wagler safe this summer. Free agency is less than a week away, so the next wave of decisions starts with options, guarantees and whether that centerpiece stays in place or moves out.
