The Los Angeles Clippers built this roster in the summer to win now. Instead, they are out of the play-in picture and look poised to be in the lottery. They are 5–13 on the season and 2-8 in their last 10 games. Despite entering the year with championship expectations, reality kicked in quicker than expected. Bradley Beal got hurt, Brook Lopez looks like he aged 10 years over the summer, and none of the additions have helped. To top it all off, Kawhi Leonard is in and out of the lineup, and Ivica Zubac has regressed. So the question for Clippers fans is simple: can this team do anything to change their season?

3 Bold Moves the LA Clippers Need to Make Before It’s Too Late

For the Clippers, the turning point might be the beating they just took from the Los Angeles Lakers. Or the fact that they needed 55 points and a career night from James Harden to beat the lowly Charlotte Hornets. On paper, the Clippers have a veteran roster capable of competing with anyone in the playoffs. But on the court, things look completely different.

The good news is that there is still time. December is approaching, and with it, a chance for the Clippers to make bold moves. On December 15th, most players across the league become eligible to be traded, and that is the window for the Clippers to strike. Here are three bold moves the Los Angeles Clippers can make to salvage their season.

Trade for Anthony Davis

Another team in a situation similar to the Clippers is the Dallas Mavericks. They also entered the season hoping to compete for a playoff spot, but injuries have ravaged their year, and now the Mavs might be looking to pivot toward a younger movement. Unlike the Clippers, the Mavs control their 2026 pick and have a budding young star to build around. That makes Anthony Davis expendable.

The Clippers don’t have much to offer, but the good news is the Mavericks may simply be looking for salary relief. If L.A. can find a way to trade for AD without giving up too many draft picks, they could turn things around. AD, paired with Harden and Kawhi, can win you games.

Atlanta Hawks: A Sneaky Trade Partner

The Atlanta Hawks are 7-3 in their last 10 games and look like a team that can make some noise in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks don’t necessarily have a player who can save the Clippers’ season, but what they do have is a highly valued 2026 first-round pick coming from the New Orleans Pelicans. Because the Clippers don’t control their own pick, acquiring a pick from another team and pivoting into a tank might be the path forward.

The question is whether the Hawks would be willing to take on some of the Clippers’ players. The bold move here would be offering Zubac, a young center who was one of the best defensive big men last season. While he’s having a down year, things can turn around. Signed to a team-friendly deal through 2027–28, Zubac could bring a different element to Atlanta’s roster.

Sell Their Soul to the Oklahoma City Thunder

The last resort for the Clippers would be to beg and sell their future to the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC controls their pick this season. It’s hard to imagine getting that pick back without giving up substantial compensation, likely in the form of future draft picks. What would follow is a complete fire sale to gather as many assets as possible.

But the main goal would be to regain control of their 2026 pick, draft a blue-chip prospect to build around, and hope the summer of 2027 provides enough cap space to add quality players.

The Last Word on the Los Angeles Clippers’ Season

The Los Angeles Clippers don’t have many paths back to contention this season. Trading for AD might be one option to squeeze out more wins. But beyond that, they owe their 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029 first-round picks. Their only real hope for adding new talent is the summer of 2027, when they are projected to have significant cap space.

There is no denying that the Kawhi era has been a failure. They haven’t made it past the Conference Finals. Now, it might be time to start over—and that means trading their biggest names. It will come at a price, but what’s the alternative? Losing this season and the next one, while hoping a star magically chooses to join a losing team?

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