Although each signing made this summer looks reasonably well-backed up with excellent research, the front office should have thought twice, three times, and four times about where the money they had was spent. They cashed in every penny of the mid-level exception and even took advantage of the veteran minimum vacancy, which Ben Simmons previously occupied.
If chemistry issues occur, where players within the locker room surprisingly do not get along with one another, a plan must be implemented by head coach Tyronn Lue. This could be as simple as a pep talk to get players back on track, or as complicated as taking matters to the front office and leaving the decision-making up to Lawrence Frank.
Conversely, the second route, which would allow Frank to explore his options, would be extremely complicated and, to a certain extent, impossible. His hands will be tied, as the NBA has a strict set of rules in place for those recently signed.
This will force the fans to wait months before a trade is made regarding an unplayable player, given the multiple signings and extra additions made by Frank.
The LA Clippers have several players that cannot enter the trade block for several more months
Out of the 30 teams league-wide, only two made more noise than the LA Clippers in free agency, and their names are the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks. This is a great sign, as the front office was serious about improving after falling out of the first round in the 2025 NBA playoffs.
On the contrary, having new additions come in and sign the dotted lines on their latest deals can turn upside down once the regular season begins, as front offices often misjudge who will fit, leading the fan base to wish for a trade.
This offseason, the Clippers brought in three new faces in Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, and Brook Lopez, while re-signing James Harden and Nicolas Batum. This makes five players the front office will be forced to keep for the time being.
Furthermore, according to the rulebook, the Clippers will have to wait until December 15th, 2025, before making any trade regarding these five players.
Each one is expected to pan out, and two already had great campaigns in 2025-26 for the Clippers. However, being practical is crucial, and Paul, Harden, Beal, Lopez, and Batum will be stuck well past day one of the regular season.