What's next for Clippers? How Kawhi Leonard's contract, NBA investigation, more muddy future of Los Angeles

What's next for Clippers? How Kawhi Leonard's contract, NBA investigation, more muddy future of Los Angeles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Clippers' season is over, which means the organization enters a very tumultuous offseason.

After starting the year with a 6-21 record, the Clippers did an admiral job to not only finish with a winning record, but make the Play-In Tournament in the process. However, Los Angeles traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac midseason, a sign that the team didn't fully believe that this was the year.

Moving forward, the Clippers remain under investigation by the NBA for potentially circumventing the salary cap, while Kawhi Leonard is set to hit his mid-30s this summer. Los Angeles' future comes with many questions about how the organization will proceed.

Here's a look at what's next for the Clippers.

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NBA Investigation

The NBA is still investigating the Clippers and Leonard for their connection to Aspiration, a "green banking company" in Los Angeles. Pablo Torre has reported that the endorsement deals that Leonard signed with Aspiration were ways to potentially circumvent the salary cap.

Torre first reported these allegations in September of 2025, and the NBA opened the investigation not long after. However, as information came out regarding the Clippers connection to Aspiration, commissioner Adam Silver is leaning on the law firm of law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to investigate and report findings back to the NBA.

Therefore, entering the offseason, the biggest question surrounding the Clippers is how the NBA could punish the organization based on what the investigation finds. Owner Steve Ballmer is right in the middle of the investigation, and Silver has a history of handing down severe penalties on owners in his tenure as commissioner.

Kawhi Leonard's future

Coming off a strong season, Leonard has one year remaining on his contract as he enters the twilight of his career. Leonard turns 35 years old in June, but is still the best player on the team and there hasn't been any indication that he and the team want to go their separate ways.

Leonard will make just over $50 million in 2026-27 before hitting free agency in the Summer of 2027. He is eligible for an extension if Los Angeles wants to lock him in beyond that.

Of course, the investigation looms over both Leonard and the Clippers, so the NBA could also have a say over Leonard's future with Los Angeles. Additionally, the Clippers decision to trade James Harden midseason is a sign the team could try to undergo a mini-rebuild, as the team has cleared its salary cap books beyond next season.

MORE: Who do insiders and NBA media members think is the best player in the NBA?

Will Ty Lue be back?

Lue is the second-winningest in Clippers history, as he took the team to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. In six seasons, Lue led the team to the playoffs four times, but has lost in the first round three-straight years from 2023 to 2025.

In 2024, Lue signed a contract that ties him to the Clippers through the 2028-29 season, so Los Angeles would have to feel strongly about moving on from him in order to make a change. Additionally, with the Clippers in a potential transition period, Lue could also decide to explore other opportunities himself.

Lue's job may have been in jeopardy when the Clippers opened the season 6-21, but the coach's ability to turn the season around was impressive. It's hard to imagine Los Angeles firing him, but there have been more surprising firings in the NBA.

Future draft picks

The Clippers are still hurting from losing draft picks they sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Paul George trade, as they don't own their first-round pick this year and are on the lesser end of a 2027 first-round pick swap. Additionally, Los Angeles sent their 2028 first-round pick and are subject to a 2029 first-round pick swap as part of the James Harden trade from 2023.

Therefore, the Clippers have to find a way to retool without controlling much of their draft destiny. Los Angeles has a big decision to make about how to move forward without much draft capital over the next four years.