The Los Angeles Clippers Media Day
The newest member of the Los Angeles Clippers #7 Brandon Ingram (F) during their photo shoot at Media Day inside the Intuit Dome. This photo is by Daynesha Lewis/TGSportstv1 September 28, 2026.
INGLEWOOD, CA – With a complete roster overhaul following the Kawhi Leonard trade, the team moving younger with seven new faces on the roster normally would have headlined the Los Angeles Clippers 2026 Media Day.
However, the first item the team addressed was answers surrounding their historic punishment regarding the NBA’s findings and organizational punishment for circumventing the NBA salary cap for Leonard’s previous contract, which included a 30-million-dollar fine, one-year bans each for owner Steve Ballmer and team president Lawrence Frank, as well as a landmark loss of five consecutive first-round draft picks.
“You guys deserved to hear from us before this, our fans deserved to hear from us before this, and for that we’re sorry,” said interim President of Basketball Operations Trent Redden. “We hope to build your trust and move forward at this time. The penalties we are facing are significant, and we’ll comply with them.
Redden was appointed Team President last week, replacing Lawrence Frank, who is currently suspended until the 2027-2028 NBA season. These were Redden’s first public comments since being promoted.
While the Clippers start this season with their backs against the wall, dealing with suspensions, injuries, and a lack of chemistry with a revamped roster, there were many promising headlines coming out of media day, and head coach Tyronn Lue has been in a similar situation before.
“I kind of equate this team a little bit like the one we had when Kawhi was out, when he tore his ACL,” said Lue. “That year we had Luke Kennard, Marcus Morris, Reggie, Isiah Hartenstein and those guys. I’m up for the challenge; it's a little different.”
Those role players all stepped up for Lue on a team without Leonard during the 2022 season, exceeding expectations and making the Playoff Play-In Tournament. Once again, the Clippers find themselves entering a new season without Leonard, in addition to losing James Harden and Ivica Zubac earlier this year.
Two-time All-Star Brandon Ingram came over in the Leonard trade and was expected to fill the offensive void left by Leonard and Harden departures, but Reddon revealed today that heel surgery Ingram had during the off-season was for a partially torn Achilles and most likely won’t see the floor until 2027. This was a huge blow for the Clippers, who viewed Ingram as a focal point and primary engine offensively for the team due to his scoring abilities.
“I’m a big fan of Ty Lue, and I’m ready to learn everything I can from him,” said Ingram regarding his eagerness to return to the court. “I think my best years are ahead of me. I want to go out there and compete and show I’m a winning basketball player and just be on the floor as much as I can and do what I love to do.”
Other injuries revealed and timeliness include guard Jordan Hill tearing his rotator cuff playing pickup basketball this off-season, which required surgery, and he will be re-evaluated in five months. Former all-star Bradley Beal, who spent most of last season recovering from hip surgery, had progressed and was on track to play opening night but has been sidelined after recent knee inflammation.
Lastly, center Yanic Niederhauser is still recovering from foot surgery and isn’t expected back until the end of the year, leaving the team to rely heavily on 38-year-old Brook Lopez, who was originally brought in last season to back up Zubac.
With the center position heavily thinned out this season, Lopez looks to channel some of his old-school dominance down low after primarily being a spot up three-point specialist and shot blocker the past decade.
“With the way the team is built now, I definitely see myself playing in the paint a ton more,” said the former 2013 All-Star Lopez. “Posting up, being more of a low post scoring threat and basing my game around that a lot more than just staying on the perimeter.”
With no first-round draft picks until 2032, pressure is mounting on the Keaton Wagler, the Clippers last first-round pick from June, to step up faster than expected and provide a timely role for this depleted team. It’s a role Wagler has shown he’s capable of, whether it was flashes of greatness during NBA Summer League or leading his Illinois team to the Final Four during March Madness.
“I was lifting super hard throughout the summer; the strength coaches had me on a great plan, getting in here four times a week getting lifts in to get stronger and better prepared for this season,” said Wagler.
In free agency news, the Clippers sign key playoff performer Max Strus from the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he’ll reunite with Darius Garland. Additionally, Rui Hachimura pulled a Shohei Ohtani moving across town, leaving the Lakers to sign with the Clippers.
Statistically, Hachimura is the greatest three-point shooter in NBA Playoff history, averaging 50.8% behind the arc, with a minimum of 100 attempts. He thrived in that role as a catch-and-shoot specialist, catching wide-open looks from LeBron James and Luka Doncic the past few seasons. Like Lopez, he plans on establishing more of a presence in the paint, improving his strength and rebounding. He’s a Swiss-army knife defensively and can guard any front court position, including guarding wing Anthony Edwards and former MVP center Nikola Jokic in the playoffs.
While the Clippers may face some adversity early on the heels of beginning the season without a pair of first-round Hall of Fame players like the last few seasons, this team of role players, former All-Stars, and young talent, including the fifth overall pick from June's draft, is optimistic. They aim to come together under Lue’s stewardship as he leads the team into uncharted waters with the playoff expectations in sight.
The Clippers fly to Hawaii tomorrow to start their training camp ahead of three preseason games before opening night. Their first preseason game will be against the Golden State Warriors on October 4th, at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.