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Three Players Who Will Be Vital to Clippers Saving Their Gloomy Future
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- Three Players Who Will Be Vital to Clippers Saving Their Gloomy Future
The Los Angeles Clippers are in a dire state as a franchise after the NBA reached a verdict in their investigation of the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for salary cap circumvention, leading to harshest penalties in NBA history for such an offense, including the forfeiture of five first-round draft picks, a $30 million fine to owner Steve Ballmer and multiple suspensions to Ballmer and other personnel.
The loss of the five picks is particularly devastating , especially for a team like the Clippers that has fully committed to a rebuild the way that the Clippers have, and now their future and ability to continue to fortify their young roster is severely in doubt.
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But things aren't all bad. Before the NBA dropped the hammer down, the Clippers had a particularly successful offseason and trade deadline, bringing in a wealth of new talent.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) drives the ball while under pressure from San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) during the first half at Intuit Dome. William Liang-Imagn Images
That talent will have to go above and beyond to make sure that the Clippers can be competitive not only this season, but for years after that.
Los Angeles ' investment in youth will go a long way in protecting the future of the franchise, but there three young stars whose performances will go a long way in helping the Clippers weather the storm brought upon them by the NBA.
Darius Garland
At just 26-years-old, Darius Garland stands out as a veteran leader of the Clippers' young core and with his first full season in Los Angeles ahead of him, Garland should be poised to help the Clippers out in a big way.
LA Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) gestures after a three-point basket in the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Intuit Dome. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In the limited time that he was able to play for Los Angeles last season, Garland offered a glimpse of what he could be in the future, and it was an impressive glimpse.
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If Garland is able to carry over that production into next season and beyond and approach the heights he reached in the two All-Star selections of his career, the Clippers should be in good hands.
Keaton Wagler
NBA commissioner Adam Silver greets the fifth pick in the 2026 NBA draft, Illinois guard Keaton Wagler after he was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Center. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The biggest success of the Clippers' offseason was not only that they acquired a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft from the Indiana Pacers by trading Ivica Zubac , but because that pick ended up being the fifth-overall pick.
With that pick the Clippers selected Keaton Wagler, and he's already being positioned as the face of the franchise before playing a single regular season game by making him the forefront of their marketing material.
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) controls the ball against UConn Huskies guard Silas Demary Jr. (2) during the second half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Wagler's single NCAA season at Illinois was an impressive one, earning him AP All-American Second Team honors, and if he's able to continue that level of play into the NBA level, the Clippers' prospective face of the franchise will step into that role quite comfortably for years to come.
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Yanic Konan-Niederhauser
Los Angeles Clippers center Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) dunks the ball past New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen (22) during the second half at Intuit Dome. Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Clippers took a major gamble by trading Zubac, their franchise center, away at the deadline last season, but considering that they had Yanic Konan Niederhauser , a homegrown talent that elevated himself from the G-League to the NBA level, it's easy t see why they were so confident in that decision.
Niederhauer is still recovering from a season-ending foot injury that he suffered last season and he may miss time at the beginning of next season, but when he does make his return, Niederhauser will be welcomed into the roster as likely the franchise center of the next several years, putting the paint of Intuit Dome into good hands.
