With no future assets until 2034, speculation is growing that the Los Angeles Clippers could view Darius Garland as a potential trade piece.
In the wake of being decimated by the NBA after being found guilty of circumventing the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers find themselves on a blurry path ahead.
Position
PG
Age
26
Height
185 cm
Weight
87 kg
Birth place
Indianapolis, United States of America
With no first-round draft assets to use or build around until 2034, the Clippers might be forced to consider exploring Darius Garland trade possibilities, according to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports.
“The Aspiration-Kawhi Leonard punishment could set into motion a series of events that winds up with Garland being placed firmly on the market as the Clippers seek to recoup as many future draft picks from the roster,” the report indicated. “Anyone want to give up two picks for him?”
Clippers now belong to Darius Garland
With Kawhi Leonard set to be traded to the Toronto Raptors, Darius Garland is now the newest centerpiece of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Garland arrived in LA back at the 2025-26 trade deadline, joining the Clippers as part of the blockbuster James Harden trade executed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He had an injury-riddled season marred by toe issues, but managed to appear in 19 games for the Clippers, averaging 19.9 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds.
He will earn $42.1 million in the upcoming season before approaching 2027-28 as a contract year.
Will LA pull a fire sale?
Darius Garland’s sudden, uncertain future in LA is simply a part of the team-wide curiosity around the Clippers after the NBA’s brutal punishment.
There have been rumblings already around the organization about whether the franchise will pull the trigger and execute a fire sale for future assets.
“Given that the team is not predicted to be a contender for the NBA title this coming season, some team sources wondered whether the Clippers might begin a fire sale and trade away all but its best, young players, to replenish its future draft assets as much as possible — a move to ‘tank’ their record that Ballmer previously never found palatable,” Andrew Greif of NBC News reported.
The Clippers face plenty of questions about how they will navigate the upcoming season and the next few years, including their commitment to Garland.
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