The Los Angeles Clippers had a solid 2024-2025 season. After losing Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers following the 2023-2024 season, the Clippers finished 50-32, finishing 5th in the Western Conference. They lost a hard-fought seven-game first-round series to Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets.
That gave the Clippers high hopes entering the 2025-26 season. First, the Clippers let veterans Ben Simmons and Patty Mills go in free agency. Then, they traded Norman Powell to the Miami Heat, receiving John Collins in return. Afterwards, they signed center Brook Lopez to strengthen the front line, added former All-Star Bradley Beal, and brought back future Hall-of-Fame ‘point god’ Chris Paul.
However, the Clippers have started 5-16 and parted ways with Paul in a strange manner, sending Paul home and cutting ties with the veteran. Questions about the Clippers’ future are growing louder.
Clippers President Lawrence Frank Vows To ‘Fix It’
On Monday, the Clippers fell 140-123 to the red-hot Heat. It was their fifth straight loss, their eighth in nine games, and dropped them to 2-14 over their last 16 contests. During the night on Tuesday, the Clippers unexpectedly sent Paul home after just 16 games, ending his tenure with the team.
Paul, a Clipper from 2011-2017, is among the game’s greatest point guards and one of the franchise’s best players, making his departure all the more confusing.
With Paul gone and the Clippers struggling, team president Lawrence Frank, who has already received criticism over the decision, faced the pressing questions.
“If I’m wrong and this roster isn’t capable of doing more, as always we’ll be aggressive in trying to fix it…” Frank said. “We’ll explore every avenue to make this team better.”
Lawrence Frank on the 5-16 Clippers:
“If I’m wrong and this roster isn’t capable of doing more, as always we’ll be aggressive in trying to fix it… We’ll explore every avenue to make this team better.”
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) December 3, 2025
There isn’t much the Clippers can do to rebuild their team. While normally the smart move, they lack future assets.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who began the season 21-1, have the right to swap picks with the Clippers. This means the Thunder can exchange their likely late first-round pick for a potential Clippers lottery pick.
The Clippers have also traded their 2026 and 2028 picks and may swap picks in 2027 and 2029. Without a clear long-term plan, the Clippers remain focused on salvaging this season. This lack of assets will make it difficult to secure impactful ‘win-now’ trades. It remains to be seen what Frank and the Clippers will do in the coming months.
