Next summer, in restricted free agency, the LA Clippers were expected to show serious interest in Cason Wallace of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He is the ideal guard to pair with Keaton Wagler long term, given his dominant two-way game. Though Wallace likely wanted around $30 million, similar to the other top names in his draft class, the Clippers would’ve had the cap space to meet his demands.
However, before the Oct. 19 deadline, the Thunder agreed to a five-year, $139 million extension with Wallace. This shatters the Clippers’ dreams and raises the question: Who should the front office focus on next?
The Clippers have also lost several options, including Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Keyonte George, and Brandin Podziemski.
Who should the LA Clippers monitor in restricted free agency after Cason Wallace’s extension?
Although several names that would’ve fit perfectly with the LA Clippers, like Cason Wallace, have been taken off the board, the 2027 restricted free agent class is still expected to be one of the most promising in recent years.
Options include Brandon Miller, Anthony Black, Scoot Henderson, Bilal Coulibaly, Derrick Lively II, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Michael Porter Jr. There’s clearly a lot of potential left, some of which could soon reach All-Star status.
Of the names mentioned above, the Clippers should look to pair Keaton Wagler with someone, as well as secure a wing who can further strengthen the team’s foundation for the foreseeable future.
That said, paying Henderson and Jacquez Jr. lucrative salaries gets the job done to a T.
Henderson, as we all know, doesn’t just have star trajectory, but legitimate superstar potential. He’s flashed it on many occasions with the Portland Trail Blazers when healthy and is certainly capable of rising to greater heights with higher usage and more responsibility. In fact, he's in position to demonstrate what he's made of in the upcoming season.
Pairing his offensive prowess with Wagler’s two-way game creates the most perfect starting guard rotation.
Jacauez Jr., on the other hand, really began to spread his wings with the Miami Heat in year 3. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, shooting over 50% from the field, over 75 games last season.
These are two of the primary names the Clippers should keep on their radar, and still, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to consider others like Coulibaly and Lively II for the right price.
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