The Los Angeles Clippers don’t necessarily have to hit the reset button after a mediocre 2025-26 season but will need to make the right decisions to replenish their roster for the future.
The Clippers will enter the NBA draft with the fifth overall pick on Tuesday, June 23.
It’s the franchise’s lowest draft selection since picking Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009.
The Clippers likely will consider a guard with their first-round pick.
Even though the team acquired guard Darius Garland before the trade deadline during the season, the Clippers will consider their options from a guard-heavy list of draft prospects.
1 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2025: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
1 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2025: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
2 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2024: Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
3 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2023: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
(Wendell Cruz, USA TODAY Sports)
4 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2022: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
5 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2021: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
6 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2020: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
(Stephen Lew, USA TODAY Sports)
7 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2019: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
8 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2018: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
9 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2017: Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia 76ers
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
10 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2016: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
11 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2015: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
12 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2014: Andrew Wiggins, Cleveland Cavaliers (traded two months later to Minnesota Timberwolves)
(Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)
13 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2011: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers
(Mike Stobe, Getty Images)
14 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2010: John Wall, Washington Wizards
(Andrew Weber, US PRESSWIRE)
15 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2007: Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers
(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)
16 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2002: Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
(LUCY NICHOLSON, AFP via Getty Images)
17 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
2000: Kenyon Martin, New Jersey Nets
(Brett Hansbauer, US PRESSWIRE)
18 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1998: Michael Olowokandi, Los Angeles Clippers
(Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images)
19 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1997: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
(TOM MIHALEK, AFP via Getty Images)
20 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1996: Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
(TOM MIHALEK, AFP via Getty Images)
21 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1995: Joe Smith, Golden State Warriors
(Elsa, Getty Images)
22 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1994: Glenn Robinson, Milwaukee Bucks
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
23 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1993: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors
(Stephen Dunn, Getty Images)
24 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1992: Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic
(DOUG COLLIER, AFP via Getty Images)
25 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1991: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
26 / 26
NBA draft No. 1 picks since 1990: From Derrick Coleman to Cooper Flagg
1990: Derrick Coleman, New Jersey Nets
(Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
A forward could also be considered despite Kawhi Leonard’s likely return to the Clippers.
There’s still a chance that Leonard could be moved, but interested teams would have to be willing to make a trade offer and look past any potential punishment by the NBA for Leonard and the Clippers for their alleged involvement in a “no-show” agreement with a company to funnel extra compensation to the player.
L.A. Clippers experts’ mock draft selections
USA TODAY Sports: Kingston Flemings, Houston, guard
CBS Sports: Keaton Wagler, Illinois, guard
ESPN: Keaton Wagler, Illinois, guard
Bleacher Report: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas, guard
NBAdraft.net: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas, guard
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clippers mock draft: LA gets rising star in latest version
