Front offices, such as the LA Clippers, have had their moments over the years in pulling off stunning moves for players like Norman Powell, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Ivica Zubac. These trades made their success with the franchise feel even greater, as LA was correct about each of their predictions with these guys.
Despite the ups, executive Lawrence Frank has also had to call several players into his office to make a tough decision. This is the professional way of handling business, and prominent discussions, such as informing Terance Mann, a fan-favorite, that he was being traded, occurred last season.
Moreover, these one-sided, career-changing interactions occur annually, and throughout the 2025-26 regular season, Frank will have to do the same with some players on the current roster.
If the starting lineup unfolds as expected, those five (James Harden, Bradley Beal, Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, Ivica Zubac) should remain intact. These players are not necessarily replaceable, and the odds of a too-good-to-pass-up offer being available in February of 2026 may be lower than a hot, sunny day in the holiday month of December.
That said, changes will likely be made on the second unit, and one of the Clippers' decisions is painfully obvious, yet simultaneously inevitable.
The LA Clippers could waive TyTy Washington Jr. before even giving him a chance in the regular season
As he is receiving a paycheck in the mail that is not guaranteed, TyTy Washington Jr. is on thin ice with the LA Clippers. He has potential on both sides of the ball, but if the Clippers' front office needs to save money, they may waive Washington Jr. before evaluating if there have been any improvements since his days as a Phoenix Sun.
This move would be unfortunate, as Clipper Nation has been excited to see what the former Kentucky Wildcat could produce on Tyronn Lue's bench. In fact, he is a prospect many fans wanted LA to draft in 2022.
Although the Clippers' plans around Washington Jr. may be bound to happen, he could still cause the front office to second-guess their decision before submitting his paperwork and final physicals with an exceptional training camp.
Yet, on Exhibit 10, it may be difficult to hinder what is in store, thus causing Washington Jr. to be stopped from taking the next step in his NBA career, one that he has worked for since draft night with the Houston Rockets.