The Los Angeles Clippers’ long-term direction is becoming clearer as the franchise positions itself for a potential roster reset in 2027, a strategy highlighted in reporting by Sam Amick of The Athletic. The organization’s salary planning and ongoing trade discussions suggest that the current veteran core may have a limited window together.
Amick reported Tuesday that financial planning around future flexibility has already influenced internal decisions. “As league sources close to James Harden discussed with The Athletic, the Clippers’ long-term plan of clearing their salary cap books for the summer of 2027 was a factor in this decision. Here he was playing elite-level basketball at age 36, knowing full well that the organization is widely expected to pivot away from this current core two summers from now, and the present day suddenly crashed headlong into his unknown hoops future.”
The timing of that report aligns with ongoing trade conversations involving Harden, who averages 25.4 points and 8.1 assists this season while running the offense next to Kawhi Leonard. Los Angeles sits ninth in the Western Conference at 23-26, placing the team in the play-in range rather than among the conference’s top contenders.
The Clippers’ core remains built around veteran contracts, with Kawhi Leonard earning $50 million this season while averaging 27.6 points per game. Harden’s $39.2 million salary, along with significant deals for John Collins and Ivica Zubac, has left the team operating deep into tax territory.
Los Angeles currently carries more than $203 million in total salary against a $154.6 million cap, leaving minimal flexibility for roster additions. The franchise is hard-capped at the first apron, with less than $1.2 million in remaining space.
Those constraints extend beyond the current season. Projections for the summer of 2026 show the Clippers more than $66 million over the estimated cap, even before accounting for cap holds and player options.
Projections for the next two offseasons show continued pressure. Payroll estimates suggest the club could remain significantly over the cap heading into 2026-27, which limits traditional roster upgrades and increases the value of expiring deals or movable contracts as tools for future restructuring.
Veteran depth has helped maintain stability, with players such as Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum, and Brook Lopez providing rotational minutes, but the age profile of the roster signals a narrowing championship window. Leonard is 34, Harden is 36, and several key contributors are in their 30s, making long-term continuity difficult under modern cap rules.
