The Clippers carry $193.7 million in salary, over the $165.0 million cap but under the $200.4 million tax line. Their 2027-28 book turns on options rather than clean expirations, and the two first-round picks forfeited under the league's Leonard ruling leave the draft cupboard thin.
The payroll sits below the tax line, with room to spare.
At $193.7 million across 19 contracts, the Clippers are over the $165.0 million salary cap but $6.7 million under the $200.4 million luxury tax line, and further still from the $209.0 million first apron and $221.7 million second apron. Darius Garland's $42.2 million and Brandon Ingram's $40.0 million anchor the sheet, followed by Max Strus at $16.7 million, Rui Hachimura at $14.0 million and Derrick Jones Jr. at $10.5 million.
Next summer's books turn on options, not clean exits.
Little comes off outright in 2027-28. Ingram can opt in to $41.9 million and Bradley Beal to $6.7 million, both player options, while Hachimura's $14.0 million and Cam Christie's $2.5 million are team options the front office will have to decide on. Garland's number rises to $44.9 million either way, the largest figure left on the sheet.
The draft cupboard is thin after the league's own penalty.
The September 2 ruling that the Clippers circumvented the cap through Kawhi Leonard's Aspiration deal cost them their 2029 and 2030 first-round picks outright, on top of a $30 million fine. What remains is mostly conditional: first-round swaps in 2027 and 2028, second-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, a 2027 second owed to Utah and a 2029 second owed to San Antonio.
Ingram's contract arrived as the return for Leonard, not a fresh deal.
The September 15 trade sent Leonard to Toronto for Ingram, Gradey Dick and five draft picks, meaning the $40.0 million now on the books was already signed before the swap. With Ingram out until November 1 with the partially torn Achilles diagnosed September 28, the Clippers are carrying that number for a player who has not played for them yet this season.
Are the Clippers over the salary cap this season?
Yes. Their $193.7 million payroll is over the $165.0 million cap but sits $6.7 million under the $200.4 million luxury tax line.
What happened to the Clippers' future draft picks?
The league's September 2 ruling on Kawhi Leonard's Aspiration deal forfeited the Clippers' 2029 and 2030 first-round picks, leaving mostly pick swaps and two second-rounders owed to other teams.
