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What Clippers lineup projection looks like without Kawhi Leonard after Raptors trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After the Los Angeles Clippers are set to trade Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto, the team will obviously look much different from its former era. The Leonard-James Harden team that was built to combat their cross-city rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, has now moved aside to form a rebuilding, young L.A. team.
With the new trades and draft picks that have arrived in the City of Angels, many NBA fans have begun questioning what the Clippers' 2026-27 starting lineup and roster will look like on opening night.
The team that once built itself on veteran stars is now largely built with young players acquired in the NBA Draft.
Here's the current squad Los Angeles will head into the 2026-27 NBA season with.
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Clippers lineup projection 2026
Here's a glance at how Los Angeles' starting lineup could look to begin the season:
- Darius Garland
- Bennedict Mathurin
- Brandon Ingram
- John Collins
- Brook Lopez
While the Clippers drafted four rookies, it is not likely that any will start for the team on opening night. Garland, Mathurin, Ingram, Collins (if he re-signs), and Lopez will likely be the team's starting five due to their experience in the NBA. That lineup will certainly look different after injuries become present in that aging starting lineup.
Los Angeles will be without Harden and Leonard, and the starting lineup does feel a bit empty without those two big names. However, Garland and Ingram, serving as the team's stars, can be capable of winning some games. The team is in a rebuild, so playing time will be subject to change as the 2026-27 season progresses.
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Clippers roster 2026
| Player | Position | Age |
| Cam Christie | G | 20 |
| Gradey Dick | G | 22 |
| Kris Dunn | G | 32 |
| Darius Garland | G | 26 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | G | 24 |
| Jordan Miller | G | 26 |
| Sean Pedulla | G | 23 |
| Kobe Sanders | G | 24 |
| Keaton Wagler | G | 19 |
| TyTy Washington Jr. | G | 24 |
| John Collins | F | 28 |
| Brandon Ingram | F | 28 |
| Isaiah Jackson | F | 24 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | F | 29 |
| Nick Martinelli | F | 22 |
| Baba Miller | F | 22 |
| Narcisse Ngoy | F | 21 |
| Norchad Omier | F | 24 |
| Brook Lopez | C | 38 |
| Yanic Konan Niederhauser | C | 23 |
The Clippers' full roster is one that signifies the team is in a rebuild. An abundance of youth, mixed with a select few of veterans, shows the direction that this franchise is heading to. After starting the 2025-26 season with both James Harden and Leonard, both stars have since departed from the City of Angels, and a new era is upon the team.
It will be interesting to see how many minutes rookies Keaton Wagler, Nick Martinelli, Baba Miller, and Narcisse Ngoyget dished out by head coach Tyronn Lue. That list of faces won't be the only ones to walk through the Clipper facilities this offseason. Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick, both acquired from the Leonard trade to Toronto, will also take some time to find their footing in Los Angeles.
As the season goes on, it can be assumed that the Clippers will play their younger players more than they would have to start the season. Player development is a key theme of the team's future, and it starts in the upcoming season.
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