Clippers’ Roster-Building Mindset This Offseason Has Been Made Clear

The Los Angeles Clippers knew that they needed to change the direction of the team after years of signing big names and coming up short anyways, and they've finally made that change this offseason.

The process started at last season's trade deadline when they traded away James Harden and Ivica Zubac for a haul of young players and picks which showed off just how serious they actually are about the process and they've only continued to improve on their process with every subsequent move they've made, including attempting to trade Kawhi Leonard, though that's a move that hasn't been approved yet due to the NBA's ongoing investigation.

Now the regular season is nearly here and the Clippers roster has a lot to be excited about, but they are still a rebuilding team and rebuilding teams aren't teams that are often destined for a lot of regular season, as ESPN's Brian Windhorst said in a recent video. 

 Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (20) reaches in front of Los Angeles Clippers guard Jordan Miller (22) for a loose ball in the second half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesA Season Without Wins

Windhorst described the Clippers as a franchise that's going through a "franchise reset" and he projected the Clippers to be a "30-ish" win team next season while they go through the growing pains of that process.

That is certainly the low end of a possible projection for the Clippers, especially considering that they're core stands out as more talented and put together than most teams in essentially year one of a rebuild, but it's also a projection that reflects how tumultuous a rebuild is by nature.

Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins (20) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) as he drives to the basket in the first half at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The goal for the Clippers' next season will be less about regular season wins or a trip to the playoffs, and more about trying to build chemistry between this new roster and hammer out the final needs they have in terms of fit to reveal what further needs they have as a team that can be improved on in the future with their plethora of draft picks. 

Building for the Future

This season is about potential, rather than playoffs, and working to establish the foundation of something that can be successful going forward. 

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7), center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) defend a shot by Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) in the first half at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

So while a 30-win projection from Windhorst is a pessimistic outlook on the current state of the roster, it's also realistic considering the the process that the Clippers are undergoing and the goals that they're trying to work toward. 

Still, even if the Clippers' regular season isn't what one that's defined by an abundance of success in terms of wins and losses, they'll still be an intriguing watch to see how their foundation comes together.