The LA Clippers have shifted away from the star-driven approach that brought them to new heights of success and agonizing valleys of inconsistency. Five years removed from their first and only Conference Finals appearance, the Clippers have gone all-in on balance during the 2026 offseason.
Though it may not be the flashiest move that any team made this summer, the Clippers signing Rui Hachimura to a team-friendly two-year, $28 million contract has officially pushed them out of the depths of their star-driven inconsistency.
The Clippers seemed to strike gold in 2019 when they acquired Paul George and Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster summer. Leonard had just won a second career championship and Finals MVP award, while George had just earned All-NBA First Team honors.
Unfortunately, injuries and an obsession with star power ultimately resulted in 2021 being a rare peak in a seven-year period that was ultimately defined by underwhelming results.
LA reached the Conference Semifinals in 2020 and the Conference Finals in 2021. Since then, they've finished above .500 in five consecutive seasons, but have missed the playoffs twice and lost in the first round in the remaining three campaigns.
Thankfully, signing Hachimura to a team-friendly contract is the latest in a line of moves that confirms that the Clippers have learned from their mistakes.
Clippers are finally valuing balance over star power
Leonard missed the entire 2021-22 season and sat for 30 games in 2022-23 and 45 in 2024-25. George appeared in 161 of a possible 264 games between his final three seasons with the Clippers. To resolve the issue of inconsistent appearances from the franchise players, LA traded for James Harden.
Unfortunately, a lack of depth, developabale talent, and cost-efficient players who could offer starting-caliber minutes consistently plagued the Clippers' dream of contending.
Thankfully, LA has begun to move past the star-heavy approach it previously embraced. It traded Harden for Darius Garland, and moved Leonard and Ivica Zubac in separate deals for a combined four first-round draft picks, three second-round selections, and a pick swap.
The Clippers also acquired the likes of Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram, Isaiah Jackson, and Bennedict Mathurin. Mathurin is currently a restricted free agent.
Adding Hachimura to the growing core of under-30 players has further cemented the Clippers' status as a deep and balanced team. Moreover, it's proven that they're willing to negotiate fair contracts, pass up on costly trades, and continue to value a future beyond what's right in front of them.
The Clippers still have a pair of All-Stars in Garland and Ingram, of course, but they've built out a roster with multiple ball handlers, shot creators, and shooters to anchor a complete overhaul of how they project to play.
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