Throughout this offseason, the Clippers have turned themselves into one of the deepest teams in the NBA. First, they signed Brook Lopez to be their backup Center. Next, they traded Norman Powell for John Collins in a three team deal, which was confusing at the time. But, about a week and a half later, they signed Bradley Beal after his contract buyout from the Phoenix Suns. Lastly, the Clippers brought back their franchise legend, Chris Paul, as he finishes his last season in the NBA. The Clippers probably got the most out of their roster last season, so they got that much better. After going seven games and losing in the first round to the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers showed that their core can still compete at an extremely high level. Now, what will this new roster do? How will they perform in fantasy? This article will answer these questions, so let’s get into it.
Oldest Team in the NBA? Clippers’ Fantasy Outlook 2025-26
1) Harden and Zubac are Worth the Draft Capital
Last season, James Harden and Ivica Zubac were the two best fantasy players on the Clippers. I would expect that to continue this upcoming season. Currently, Harden is ranked as the 15th overall player for fantasy next season per ESPN’s early rankings. This would put him as a mid-second round pick in 10-man leagues. Knowing how deep the Point Guard position is for fantasy, this price is slightly high for me. But, he is still a solid pick in this range. Harden has double-double upside every game, and is one of the most consistent, high-floor fantasy players in the league. For Zubac, he is ranked at 46th overall. This price is a value for Zubac. Last season, Zubac averaged a double-double and was a staple for competitive fantasy teams. I don’t expect much to change for next season. Both Harden and Zubac will be great fantasy players next season.
2) Should you Take a Chance on Kawhi Leonard?
At this stage in his career, the only thing we want is to see Kawhi Leonard fully healthy. This postseason, Leonard showed the NBA world that he definitely still is a great player in today’s league. He averaged 25.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 54/41/78 shooting splits against the Nuggets in the playoffs. Still, I don’t think drafting Leonard would be in your best interests. We all know that the playoffs are the main priority for Leonard. He was still sitting out back-to-back games during the regular season last year as well. At his current projection of 56th overall, a guy who you hope plays 50-60 games for you may not be the smartest thing. If Leonard drops in ADP at least a round or more, then I would consider taking him. But, stay away from Leonard at his current price.
3) Who Will be the Best New Addition for Fantasy?
All of the new additions will make some impact, but Bradley Beal and John Collins are in the conversation to be the best. Let’s start with Collins, who is coming off a season averaging 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. This was easily Collins’ best season since his early Hawks days in 2018-2020. Collins provides the Clippers with some more rebounding, and a versatile lob-threat that won’t destroy their spacing. Collins is a very good player, but I think he will still be the second-best addition in regards to fantasy.
The best addition being none other than Bradley Beal. People tend to compare Beal’s skill and play to his outrageous contract he was on. But now he is not on that contract. Last year, Beal still averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds on very solid shooting percentages. If Beal can take over that Norman Powell role from last season, Beal is going to be a steal by the time draft season comes around. I would looking to be targeting Beal in the late stages of all of my drafts right now.
The Last Word
Overall, the Clippers are going to be a very good team this upcoming season. It’s hard to predict who is going to be a great fantasy asset outside of James Harden and Ivica Zubac. Kawhi Leonard is an intriguing option because of his talent, but the injury management is a real concern for me. Bradley Beal and John Collins are going to be very solid options for fantasy as well. I am very interested in the Clippers this upcoming season, and not just for fantasy basketball.
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