The Clippers’ future is bright.
The Los Angeles Clippers have set the foundation for a fruitful future already and judging by their potential cap space, they could be just getting started.
They've already set the foundation for a rebuild by trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline, in the process gaining 26-year-old All-Star guard Darius Garland from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick.
The first of those picks, which were picked up from the Indiana Pacers in the Zubac trade, has already translated into the fifth-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and homegrown Clippers like Jordan Miller, Kobe Sanders and Yanic Konan Niederhauser have all taken massive strides since being called up from the G-League.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Jordan Miller (22) heads down court past Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7) after a three-point basket in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesThe Future in Los Angeles
It's not just their existing players or potential draft picks that should give Clippers fans a reason to be excited, though, it's the kind of financial flexibility the team will have going forward that could make them a premier free agent destination.
As of right now, the Clippers have eight players under contract and 10 rostered players who could become free agents, either because they're up for a player or team option or because they're on a two-way contract.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Jordan Miller (22) heads down court past Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7) after a three-point basket in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesThe Clippers also have several players who could be eligible for extensions, such as Darius Garland, Derrick Jones Jr., John Collins or Kawhi Leonard. That's one direction that the Clippers could go in should they choose to move forward with their existing core plus their new draftees.
Looking At The Finances
At present, the Clippers are over $95 million over the salary cap and have just $45.2 million worth of luxury tax space, however the construction of the team could look a lot different by the 2027 offseason.
Leonard will be a free agent by that point if not extended and Bradley Beal will be a free agent as well. Should the Clippers move other layers on the current roster and commit to a rebuild, an analysis by Spotrac projects the Clippers to have up to $90 million in cap space for the 2027 offseason.
That scenario gives the Clippers lots of flexibility. With that much money available they could retain Leonard or add another big name star or they could start to flesh out a completely new roster built around their emerging young core and the talent they acquire picking fifth-overall in the upcoming draft.
With either direction that Los Angeles decides to take, Clippers fans should be able to enjoy a bright future.
