One of the most exciting parts of the offseason, training camp, is right around the corner. What makes it so exciting is not only that regular-season basketball is almost here, but also the competition within it.
Several players on the LA Clippers are going to be battling against one another for what they want, whether that’s for their place on the team, a slot in the starting five, or minutes in Tyronn Lue’s rotation.
That said, below are three players who will have to prove themselves, followed by a brief breakdown.
3. Gradey Dick
As everyone is aware, the LA Clippers have a surplus of guards. And, between Keaton Wagler, Max Strus, Bradley Beal, and Kris Dunn, who are all likely to start the season out on the bench, there will be hardly any minutes left for Gradey Dick.
To prove he deserves playing time, Dick will have to consistently knock down shots, hold his own on defense, and make the right reads. He has basically no margin for error.
Dick exceeding expectations would be great, but if not, Tyronn Lue won’t hesitate to leave him on the bench until further notice, as we’ve seen with youngsters in the past.
2. Cam Christie
Rightfully so, the LA Clippers are almost at their breaking point with Cam Christie. He’s shown flashes of potential here and there, but Christie struggles heavily in shot creation, physicality, and efficiency.
For reference, Christie has never shot above 39% from the field and 25% from three over the span of two seasons in the league. He also failed to impress in the 2026 Summer League.
Christie knows the Clippers are on the verge of moving on, as they mutually agreed to push back his guaranteed-salary deadline to Oct. 15. This was likely done to see how he performs in training camp.
If he doesn’t earn another opportunity, the Clippers will look to waive him, and they won’t look back.
1. Keaton Wagler
Going into training camp, it doesn’t appear that Keaton Wagler, a rookie drafted fifth overall, will be starting. Kris Dunn seems to be ahead of him, and so does Max Strus.
However, a starting spot is valuable, and something Wagler probably wants as he begins his rookie campaign. Therefore, he will have to prove he deserves it.
He'll do that by scoring on all three levels, being a reliable playmaker, defending at a high level through physicality, and ultimately showing he fits best next to Darius Garland, which is what Tyronn Lue will be looking for as the top priority.
If he checks off these four boxes, Wagler will easily win the job.
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