LA Clippers fans are certainly aware of where the team stands when it comes to draft picks, and while the franchise doesn't have much to work with right now, they do have star power in the form of multiple future Hall of Famers currently on the roster.
The decision to trade for Paul George in 2019 was risky, but it was something the Clippers had to do if they wanted to land Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Los Angeles got five solid seasons out of George, but now they've lost their star wing and the draft pick it took to acquire him.
Of course, Kawhi and James Harden are good enough to carry the Clippers to the playoffs in terms of on-court impact, but the flip side is that the Clippers are almost completely devoid of future draft picks. To give you an idea of what the organization has to work with specifically in terms of draft capital, here's a comprehensive list of the Clippers' future picks:
2030 1st round draft pick (owned)
2031 1st round draft pick (owned)
2031 2nd round pick (owned)
2025 first-round draft pick (OKC)
2025 2nd round pick (LAL)
2026 1st round draft pick (OKC or PHI)
2026 2nd round pick (MEM or HOU)
2027 first-round draft pick (OKC)
2027 2nd round pick (ATL)
2028 first-round draft pick (PHI)
2028 2nd round pick (CHA or DET)
2029 first-round draft pick (PHI)
2029 2nd round pick (SAS)
2030 2nd round pick (UTA)
I wouldn't blame Clippers fans who clicked off this article early after seeing how many picks Los Angeles will give up over the next six drafts. Between traded picks and pick swaps, the Clippers have given up 11 picks between now and 2030 and only retained three of their own. None of those picks will come in the next five drafts.
At this point, the Clippers are completely backed into a corner when it comes to using draft capital in future trades. Very few teams want picks more than five years out, so the Clippers have very little leverage in this area. Of course, there are ways the Clippers can start to build up draft capital again, and they'll need it if this team is to have a post-Leonard and post-Harden future.
