The 2025-2026 Los Angeles Clippers made a blockbuster move at the trade deadline in February, trading starting center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, alongside Kobe Brown, in exchange for Isaiah Jackson, Bennedict Mathurin, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2029 first-round pick. 

The Clippers finished 42-40 in the regular season and had their season ended by the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 play-in tournament. The Clippers had a 47.9 percent chance to get Indiana's first-round pick, and if it fell to the top four, Indiana had possession of the pick. This meant that the highest pick Los Angeles could land was the fifth overall pick, and luckily for them, that is the case. 

Law Murray of The Athletic revealed Frank's thoughts on how the Clippers may operate with their new number five pick.

“Well, we need to start only if there was ‘an offer too good to refuse,’ we need to then, ‘OK, how are we gonna bridge this era to the next era?'” Clippers basketball president Lawrence Frank said. “And with it is, guys who are part of the team now can also be part of the next era. But if everyone is part of the team, there’s a cliff, and you can, it could take years, years to get out of it."

"So, we never would have traded Zu unless there was a significant draft-haul opportunity that gives us the upside of those premium picks, whether it’s drafting, whether it’s using in trade, combined with cap space, to be able to get back to contender status as soon as possible," Frank added.

The Los Angeles Clippers are faced with many options in this year's NBA Draft. Many project that after the top 4, we won't see a true big man taken in the draft until later in the first round. 

The Clippers also made a move in the middle of the season, which sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Darius Garland. Garland, 26, averaged just under 20 points per game, 6.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in the 19 games he played with Los Angeles. 

With the additions of Garland and Mathurin, the Clippers added to an already guard-heavy roster, as they still had the likes of Kris Dunn, Bradley Beal, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. 

With the way the NBA Draft is set up this year, the Clippers look to add to that guard depth with a new young piece. Players like Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr., and Kingston Flemings are all projected to be available after the top four pick.

The Clippers were in the top seven in three-point percentage as a team in the regular season, and they will likely emphasize the need for shooting throughout the draft process. 

To end their season, the Clippers had Brook Lopez getting significant minutes for them while also having veteran forward John Collins, who was also acquired midseason, get a lot of playing time as well. 

Lopez, 38, will be under contract with the Clippers in 2026-2027 as well. LA will also have Isaiah Jackson under contract next season and have the option to pursue John Collins to round out their front-court depth. 

However, it's very clear that the team will be in a major hole with the center position without Yanic Konan Niederhauser.