The Clippers waived four players in a single day while banking on a two-way guard signed days earlier, and handed the starting center job to Isaiah Jackson for the regular-season opener. Both moves land with four regulars still sidelined and the payroll already at $193.7 million.
The roster turned over in a single day.
Miye Oni, Blake Wesley, Nathan Mensah and Jahmyl Telfort all left the Clippers on October 18, days after most of them had signed. The net addition was Cam Christie, who re-signed on a two-way contract October 16 and rejoined the roster October 17 at $2.3 million this season. It is the third churn cycle at the bottom of the roster in under a week.
Isaiah Jackson gets the starting center job.
Hoops Rumors reported October 18 that Jackson will start at center when the season opens. Brook Lopez remains on the roster at 38 and logged more minutes and scoring across his last three preseason outings, which makes Jackson's assignment the clearer signal of how Tyronn Lue wants to open the rotation.
Four regulars are sidelined past the opener.
Max Strus, Ingram, Niederhauser and Beal are each out, each targeted for November 8. Jordan Miller is out longer, not expected back before March 1 with a shoulder injury. Dunn and Sanders both cleared their questionable listings October 17, the lone injury news moving in the Clippers' favor this week.
The payroll math leaves little margin to add.
At $193.7 million, the Clippers sit over the $165.0 million cap and under the $200.4 million tax line, led by Garland's $42.2 million and Ingram's $40.0 million. With four core players out, a thin frontcourt and a bottom-of-roster spot still shuffling, the question is whether this is the group Lue opens with on October 21 or another transaction follows before the Kings game.
Who starts at center for the Clippers' opener?
Isaiah Jackson, according to an October 18 Hoops Rumors report, with Brook Lopez and Niederhauser behind him on the depth chart.
Which Clippers are out for the start of the season?
Strus, Ingram, Niederhauser and Beal are each targeted for November 8, while Jordan Miller is out longer with a shoulder injury, not expected back before March 1.
More from The Inglewood Report
all Clippers news →
Week ahead · Sat, Oct 17A Three-Game Week Starts the Season Short-Handed
The big question · Sat, Oct 17The Clippers' Real Test Starts November 8, Not Opening Night
Morning · Sat, Oct 17A Roster Swap and a Crowded Injury List Before the Opener
Morning · Fri, Oct 16Clippers Swap Role Players as the Opener Nears
Morning · Thu, Oct 15Ingram Returns to Work as Beal Slides to Out
Morning · Wed, Oct 14A Preseason Finale Against Denver, With Two Return Dates Due Today