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2026 Los Angeles Clippers Predictions with Best Bets and Odds to Win NBA Championship

by Spencer Toth - 10/6/2026

Los Angeles Clippers predictions Bradley Beal

The Los Angeles Clippers have no past, present, or future, and this is going to be a very grim season. They illegally went all-in on Kawhi Leonard in 2019, have been stripped of their next five draft picks as a result, and have a shell of a roster heading into the new season. Expectations are at an all-time low, but can the Clippers put something resembling a competent lineup on the floor?

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Los Angeles Clippers Offseason Recap

Before we get into the offseason moves the Clippers made on the floor, let’s look at the elephant in the room. The Clippers were found guilty of financial tampering surrounding the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard, and the league brought down the hammer on the franchise. Owner Steve Ballmer was suspended from all league and team activities for one year, the franchise was fined $30 million, and perhaps the harshest hitting penalty, they lost their first round draft picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033. This completely handcuffs the franchise’s ability to make trades, as not only do they have no draft capital to offer up, but no player in or approaching their prime will want to join the Clippers with their bleak future. 

On the court, the Clippers had a very busy offseason. Their biggest move was trading Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first round picks, two second round picks, and a 2027 pick swap. Leonard has been the backbone of this franchise since moving to Los Angeles following his 2019 championship with Toronto, and he leaves a massive hole in the frontcourt. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Finals MVP finished 7th in MVP voting last season, and even at 34 years old, he still had plenty to give. The Clippers also lost Benedict Mathurin and Bogdan Bogdanovic in free agency, and John Collins in a trade. 

Los Angeles will now look to build around Darius Garland and new arrival Ingram as they attempt to stay relevant this year. Ingram is currently injured as he recovers from heel surgery, which leaves Rui Hachimura as the Clippers most impactful addition available for opening night. Hachimura had a solid season with the Lakers last year, as he was able to stretch the floor with a 44% clip from deep, while making a consistent impact on the defensive end. He isn’t going to suddenly push the Clippers to a playoff spot, but definitely gives them some valuable frontcourt depth in the wake of their recent departures. 

2026 Los Angeles Clippers Season Expectations

It is hard to get excited about the Clippers with the draft pick strips looming and an incredibly shallow roster heading into the new year. Darius Garland is capable of generating his own offense, but he has very little support from either the starting five or off the bench. On the bright side, Garland had one of the best stretches of his career during the 19-game span he had during the tail end of last season, shooting a career high 43.8% from deep with 19.9 PPG and 6.4 assists. His ball handling ability is a dying art in the modern-day NBA, but when he will need to carry the bulk of the offensive workload, it will certainly come in handy. 

With Brandon Ingram starting the season on the sidelines, this Clippers starting five can’t get much worse. Garland will be joined by fifth overall pick Keaton Wagler in the backcourt, as the rookie will be thrust right into the action. Wagler is only 19 years old and only 175 pounds and will struggle to make an instant impact this season. He is an elite shooter who can heat up in a hurry, but his lack of an explosive first step prevents him from being threat in the paint. 

At forward, the Clippers have Derrick Jones Jr. and Hachimura with Isaiah Jackson as the starting center. No disrespect to those three, but in a top-heavy Western Conference, it is hard to see the Clippers pulling off many upsets with that starting five. Hachimura’s 13.8 PPG in 2020-21 is the highest career total for any of those three, which means incoming career highs are the only way this team is even remotely competitive. 

On the bench, the Clippers have a 38 year old Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal, who only played six games last year, as their primary options. Brook 'Splash Mountain’ Lopez is an excellent three point shooter who will give the Clippers a different look compared to Jackson, but it is only a matter of time before he starts to slow down. Beal could potentially be a good sixth man, but his lack of availability during the last several seasons makes it hard to build a team around him. 

2026 Los Angeles Clippers Schedule Breakdown

The Los Angeles Clippers open up the year with a winnable matchup against the Sacramento Kings, but then their next seven games are against teams projected to make the playoffs. An early hole would spell disaster for a team that will struggle to find momentum this season, and their schedule does them no favors. They have the benefit of spending the holidays in Los Angeles with a five-game homestand through Christmas, but then immediately go on a six-game trip out East, their longest of the season. In the NBA Cup, they take on the OKC Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans. 

2026 Los Angeles Clippers Odds

The Clippers have a win total of 30.5 heading into the 2026-27 season, which would represent their worst finish since 2010. They haven’t been going on deep playoff runs lately, but the Clippers have at least made the play-in tournament in eight straight seasons. This year they are underdogs to keep that streak alive, with +475 odds to make the playoffs and +375 odds to participate in the play-in tournament. In the NBA Cup, they have +1400 odds to win the group and +30000 odds to lift the trophy. 

2026 Los Angeles Clippers Season Predictions and Best Bets

What is there to play for in Los Angeles? The Clippers have a very shallow roster with little help waiting in the wings, which means this franchise could be in for a very long season. It would be in their best interest to try and collect a high draft pick this season before the five-year ban comes into effect, but even staying out of the relegation zone may be a problem. 

For the first bet, we will take the Clippers to finish under 30.5 wins. There are a lot of bad teams in the league with win totals in this range, but no other team has the off-court drama looming over their season. The Clippers know for a fact the next decade will be a disaster, and getting any sort of free agency help or trade acquisitions will be next to impossible during the season. Garland is a strong leader, but their next best player is either a rookie or an NBA journeyman, which leaves little to get excited about. 

While I can’t pull the trigger on this one, if you do like the Clippers, the +375 play-in tournament odds are the way to go. Los Angeles has +475 odds to make the playoffs, which would require them to secure a play-in tournament spot (likely 9th or 10th), then winning two straight games. Instead, we can get +375 odds on a play-in tournament appearance, then it doesn’t matter if they bow out early. Unless the Clippers shock the world and finish with a top-six seed, which feels next to impossible, the play-in tournament bet at +375 is absolutely the way to go. Again, I expect the Clippers to really struggle and can’t pull the trigger, but there is certainly value there. 

Top Pick: Los Angeles Clippers Under 30.5 Wins

Alternative Pick: Los Angeles Clippers to Participate in the Play-In Tournament +375

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