By the Numbers: A $193.7 Million Payroll, a Net Rating Just…

By the Clippers Nightly Desk · Friday, October 16

The Clippers carry a $193.7 million payroll into the 2026-27 opener, over the cap and under the league's $200.4 million tax threshold. Last season's numbers, a 42-40 record and a 1.1 net rating, are the clearest measure of what this group was before this fall's turnover.

The payroll leaves room before the tax threshold, even after this week's roster move.

At $193.7 million, the Clippers are over the salary cap but under the $200.4 million tax threshold. That number held through this week's swap, Miye Oni joining the roster on October 15 and Fletcher Loyer leaving the next day, a move detailed in a Hoops Rumors report that also covered Nathan Mensah's signing. The $193.7 million is spread across 19 contracts, the count behind every payroll swap the front office makes this fall.

Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram are the two highest-paid players on the roster.

Garland is due $42.2 million this season and Ingram $40.0 million, the two largest of the five biggest contracts on the books. Last season Garland averaged 18.8 points and 6.7 assists over 45 games, and Ingram averaged 21.5 points and 3.7 assists over 77.

Last season's ratings add up to a team barely above break-even.

The Clippers finished 2025-26 with a 116.3 offensive rating and a 115.2 defensive rating, a net rating of 1.1 that ranked 16th of 30 teams, with the offense 11th and the defense 18th. Pace was 97.3, a number that says nothing yet about how this retooled roster will play in 2026-27.

Kobe Sanders closed last season on a hot shooting stretch.

Over his final 10 games of 2025-26, Sanders shot 73.8 percent on true shooting, a level he had not reached across the rest of the season. He enters 2026-27 day-to-day with a left hip and torso issue, with a return date listed for October 21.

What is the Clippers' payroll for the 2026-27 season?

The Clippers carry a $193.7 million payroll, over the salary cap but under the $200.4 million tax threshold.

How much are Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram making this season?

Garland is due $42.2 million and Ingram $40.0 million, the two largest contracts on the team.

By the Clippers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.