These are the three most important questions the Los Angeles Clippers will have to answer between now and October.
The Los Angeles Clippers had an unbelievable season. They survived a brutal 6-21 start and pulled off one of the more remarkable mid-season turnarounds in recent memory in this league.
Still, they watched it all end in a play-in loss to the Golden State Warriors. Now, the offseason arrives with more uncertainty hanging over this franchise than almost anyone else in the league.
These aren't small questions, either. The decisions made in the coming months will shape what the Clippers look like for years to come. Some of them have obvious answers, most of them don't.
Here are three pressing questions the Clippers have to answer this offseason.
Feb 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts against the Orlando Magic in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesWill Kawhi Leonard Stay?
We have to start here, because everything else flows from the answer. Kawhi Leonard is entering the final year of his deal at just over $50 million and is eligible for an extension this summer.
He turned in arguably the best season of his entire professional career, averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game while finishing in the league's top 10 in field goal, two-point, and three-point shooting percentage.
Following the play-in loss, Leonard remained non-committal about his future in Los Angeles and a potential extension, stating he needed time to process the defeat. He offered a rare glimpse into his retirement plans, noting he'd stop playing "when the time comes."
That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for re-signing. To be fair, there haven't been real indications Leonard wants out, with senior NBA reporter Brett Siegel noting he hasn't gone to the Clippers expressing any desire to leave. But the clock is certainly ticking.
How Does the League Investigation Change the Calculus?
This one also feels pretty obvious. The Clippers have an ongoing league investigation hanging over the franchise after being accused of circumventing the salary cap to pay Leonard. If found guilty, penalties could include the loss of draft picks, significant fines, and suspensions of team executives including owner Steve Ballmer.
That's a massive asterisk on every decision they make this summer. Draft picks are currency. Losing them doesn't just hurt the rebuild, it could gut it entirely before it gets off the ground. Any trade, any free agency addition, any long-term plan has to be weighed against the possibility that the league comes down hard on this organization.
Lawrence Frank has been aggressive in reshaping this roster. Trading Ivica Zubac and James Harden at the deadline signaled a real commitment to building something new. But if the investigation ends badly, some of the assets they'd use to build that future could be stripped away.
Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesWhat Does the Next Era of Clippers Basketball Look Like?
Assume for a moment Kawhi stays. Fantastic, but who plays next to him? With Darius Garland now at the helm of a new era of Clippers basketball, the franchise has shifted toward a more youthful core.
Garland is a legitimate offensive engine, but pairing a 35-year-old Leonard with a younger point guard and a roster still finding its identity isn't exactly a championship formula.
The franchise's recent moves of prioritizing financial flexibility over the next two offseasons with team options on several contracts suggest LA is positioning itself for a bigger swing down the road. The question is whether that swing comes this summer or next. This team is going to have to decide what it truly is.
Are the Clippers still a win-now team, a rebuilding one, or something in between? Until that identity gets settled, every other decision is just guesswork.