LA

Clippers

After a rough 2025-26 season in which he was limited to six games due to injury, Beal opted out of the second year of his deal to become an unrestricted free agent. While there was reportedly interest from the Heat, the veteran guard has decided to remain with the Clippers on a two-year deal. If healthy, Beal can offer excellent value to managers in points leagues. However, availability has been an issue, with the 33-year-old guard having last played at least 60 games in a season in 2020-21.

Beal’s first season with the Clippers did not go as planned, as he appeared in just six games before a fractured hip required season-ending surgery. The veteran guard opted out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent, and he’s yet to find a new home. Miami has been mentioned as a possible destination for Beal, but various reports have the team’s priority being Dallas wing Klay Thompson. The Clippers are in a state of flux right now because Toronto has put the Kawhi Leonard trade on hold while the NBA continues its investigation into the contract he and Los Angeles agreed to years ago. While a healthy Beal can offer tangible fantasy value, his inability to stay healthy in recent years makes him a risky draft pick in standard leagues.

Leonard was traded to Toronto in late June, with the Clippers receiving Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and future draft capital. However, the ongoing investigation into Leonard’s Clippers contract led the Raptors to pause the deal, as potential penalties could affect Toronto. Despite new information about an undisclosed sponsorship with Daktronics reported by Pablo Torre, Leonard is going through his offseason expecting to be a Raptor by the time training camp opens in late September. When available, Leonard is one of the best players to have rostered in fantasy basketball. However, the injury history combined with this investigation will give managers something to think about at draft time.

Kawamura has appeared in 40 NBA games over two seasons, most recently spending the 2025-26 season with the Bulls on a two-way deal. In 18 NBA appearances for Chicago, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 3.6 points and 2.6 assists in 11.6 minutes. Kawamura played for the Pacers’ summer league team in Las Vegas, doing enough to earn a training camp invite from the Clippers. He still has two-way contract eligibility, and that may be the path that Kawamura is asked to take in 2026-27.

The 7-foot-5 Sharp gets a more secure opportunity to compete when the Clippers open training camp in late September. That’s a far cry from his two training camps with the Mavericks, as he was on Exhibit 10 contracts before being waived ahead of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. In his two seasons with the G League’s Texas Legends, Sharp averaged 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Depending on Yanic Konan Niederhäuser’s recovery from a Lisfranc injury that ended his rookie campaign in March, there may be a few opportunities for Sharp to contribute early next season. He certainly isn’t a must-draft player in redraft leagues, but dynasty league managers should keep an eye on the athletic shot blocker.

The 32nd overall pick in the 2023 draft, Pickett spent his first three NBA seasons with the Nuggets. In 126 appearances over three seasons, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 4.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.8 three-pointers in 12.7 minutes per game. Given the options at point guard on the Clippers’ roster who currently hold standard contracts, Pickett’s chances of impacting fantasy basketball next season are slim.

The Clippers agreed with the Raptors on a trade that would send Leonard back to Toronto in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and draft compensation. However, due to the investigation into the contract that the Clippers signed Leonard to, that transaction is on hold. And with Wednesday’s report, it’s fair to wonder if the trade will ever get done, as a potential penalty would be to void Leonard’s contract, making him a free agent. Also, Toronto would assume the penalties if they were to acquire Leonard before a ruling was made, hence the decision to delay the trade.

While Mathurin has yet to find a home after hitting restricted free agency, teams have expressed interest in the former lottery pick. In addition to the Pelicans, the Bulls have reportedly joined the pursuit. While Chicago added Norman Powell in free agency and selected Caleb Wilson in the draft, adding another wing scorer like Mathurin to the mix could give their offense a boost. However, the Bulls would likely need to free up cap space to make an offer that the Clippers would refuse to match to land Mathurin. For most of his NBA career, Mathurin has been a better option for points leagues than category leagues.

Wagler shot 1-of-5 from beyond the arc in Tuesday’s defeat, which dented his overall field-goal percentage. However, the rookie committed just one turnover and appeared more at ease than in his summer league debut on Thursday. Wagler’s size and playmaking ability may add a dimension to the Clippers’ backcourt that was missing last season, as Darius Garland and Kris Dunn are smaller guards. With the Kawhi Leonard trade on hold, it’s still unclear what the roster will look like when training camp opens. Regardless of what happens, Wagler’s development will be critical for the Clippers moving forward.

Sanders agreed to a four-year deal at the beginning of free agency, so his future with the Clippers is secure. He’s taken on a marquee scoring role in Las Vegas, and the second-year forward shot 50 percent from the field on Tuesday. While Sanders has played well, his role in summer league does not align with what he’ll be asked to do when the regular season begins. That said, playing well this summer should improve Sanders’ chances of holding a consistent place in Tyronn Lue’s rotation.