Lawrence Frank says the Clippers will add at least one significant piece this offseason via the draft, free agency, or trade.
The Los Angeles Clippers' season is over, and everyone knows it didn't end the way they wanted. A play-in loss to the Golden State Warriors capped a turbulent year that included major roster moves at the deadline.
Now, Lawrence Frank is doing what front office executives do this time of year: talking about what comes next. And to his credit, he's being pretty candid about it.
"I think first, we look at if we bring back everyone, what does that look like?" Frank said Friday. "And then we literally have a lot of different iterations and scenarios. Like, we have four tradable firsts at the draft, so do you use those and you go get a superstar player? There's other avenues where it's more of a methodical build."
That's not just offseason optimism. Frank backed it up with a concrete commitment: the Clippers will add at least one significant piece this summer, whether through the draft, free agency, or a trade.
Apr 8, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) is introduced prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesWhat LA Is Actually Working With
The Clippers don't exactly look like a contender on paper right now. They sent James Harden to Cleveland for Darius Garland at the deadline, then shipped Ivica Zubac to Indiana for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and two first-round picks. Seven players are currently under contract for next season.
That's a lot of open roster space, and a lot of flexibility. Frank identified rebounding as the top priority for personnel improvement, followed by secondary ball handling and passing, and then shooting. It's a sensible list. The Clippers finished the season 23rd in offensive rebounding rate and 25th in defensive rebounding rate.
The good news is they've got tools to work with. Frank confirmed they can operate either as a cap space team or by using the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception. And there's a chance they land a high lottery pick from Indiana if that conveyed first falls in the right range.
None of this planning happens in a vacuum, and everyone in the room Friday knew it. Kawhi Leonard is entering the final year of his deal at $50.3 million, eligible for a two-year extension this offseason, and coming off arguably his best season as a Clipper. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game and is still an All-NBA player.
Apr 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; A general overall aerial view of the Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesThe Kawhi Question Looms Over Everything
But he hasn't committed to anything. When asked about his future after the play-in loss, Leonard kept it short: they'll have that conversation when the time comes.
Frank's answer was more definitive. "Our plan is to win with Kawhi," he said. The front office wants him back, they want to build around him and Garland, and they're planning to be aggressive enough this summer to give Leonard a reason to stay.
The wildcard is the NBA's ongoing investigation into Leonard's reported endorsement arrangement with Aspiration. If the league drops significant sanctions on the organization, that changes the draft capital math entirely, and it could change Leonard's calculus on whether he wants to stay.
For now, though, Frank is turning over every stone. This group isn't tanking, it's not rebuilding from scratch, and it's not done competing. One significant piece this summer could change the conversation fast.