The Intuit Dome is entering its third season on Century Boulevard, and the team inside it looks nothing like the one that opened it. Kawhi Leonard is headed to Toronto, James Harden and Ivica Zubac are gone, a $30 million fine and five forfeited first-round picks hang over the front office, and a younger core is taking shape. Here are the five Clippers Inglewood should get to know.
1. Darius Garland
PG · #10
Averaged 17.8 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.9% from three for the Clippers after the February 2026 trade from Cleveland (2025-26 season).
Acquired for James Harden on Feb. 3, 2026, Garland immediately became the Clippers' offensive engine, averaging 17.8 points, 5.8 assists and 1.0 steals on 47.1 percent shooting and a scorching 45.9 percent from deep on 7.1 attempts per game. The 26-year-old, who said the move to L.A. helped him "get my joy back," is signed through 2028 and is the centerpiece of the new era.
2. Brandon Ingram
SF · #TBD (trade pending as of Sept. 8, 2026)
Averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 77 games for Toronto in 2025-26 and is the headliner of the agreed Kawhi Leonard trade (2025-26 season).
The Clippers agreed on June 30 to send Kawhi Leonard to Toronto for Ingram, Gradey Dick and a package of picks, but the deal sat in limbo during the NBA's Aspiration investigation and was still awaiting final paperwork as of Sept. 8 while the front office restructures. Assuming it closes, Ingram brings 21.5 points a night, a $40 million salary and a former All-Star's scoring load to a roster that badly needs one.
Note: Agreed trade from Toronto (for Kawhi Leonard) not yet finalized at research time; verify before publishing.
3. Rui Hachimura
PF · #28
Signed a two-year, $28 million deal after shooting 51.4% overall and 44.3% from three for the Lakers (2025-26 season).
Hachimura crossed town on a two-year, $28 million deal, turning down Golden State, Minnesota, Brooklyn and San Antonio because he wanted to stay in L.A. Last season with the Lakers he averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 44.3 percent from three, exactly the spacing a Garland-led offense needs. He should slot into the starting frontcourt from opening night.
4. Keaton Wagler
G · #1
The No. 5 pick in the 2026 draft averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists as an Illinois freshman and was Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2025-26 college season).
The Clippers used the No. 5 pick, acquired from Indiana in the Zubac trade, on the 6-foot-6 Illinois guard who set program freshman records for points (663), field goals and threes (87) while shooting 39.7 percent from deep. A consensus All-American and Jerry West Award winner, Wagler averaged 18 points in the NCAA Tournament to carry Illinois to its first Final Four since 2005. He wears No. 1 because Isaiah Jackson had 23.
5. Derrick Jones Jr.
F · #5
Posted a career-best scoring average of roughly 10-11 points per game in 2025-26 on 49.9% shooting with a block per game (2025-26 season).
The 10-year veteran quietly had his best scoring season in 2025-26, averaging a career-high of roughly 11 points (12.6 after the All-Star break) with about 3.5 rebounds, a steal and a block in 27 minutes a night while shooting 49.9 percent from the field. On a roster that lost most of last year's minutes, Jones is one of the few returning rotation regulars, an elite athlete and the defensive glue next to Ingram and Hachimura.
Agree? Disagree? Tag @beinglewood with your five. And if you are heading to the stadium, the arena or the Forum this season, wear the city.
Sources
- https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47808860/james-harden-darius-garland-trade-g
- https://www.nba.com/news/raptors-clippers-kawhi-leonard-trade
- https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49286926/rui-hachimura-clippers-agree-2-year
- https://247sports.com/college/illinois/article/keaton-wagler-drafted-2026-nba-dr
- https://craftednba.com/players/derrick-jones-jr.
Sports stats are from the 2025 NFL season and 2025-26 NBA season unless labeled otherwise (2026 NFL Week 1 and 2026-27 NBA had not produced full stats at research time). Jersey numbers from ESPN/team rosters as of Sept 2026.
