The 2012–13 Los Angeles Clippers season was the 43rd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), their 35th season in Southern California, and their 29th season in Los Angeles. During the offseason, the Clippers signed seven-time all-star Grant Hill and re-acquired Lamar Odom from the Dallas Mavericks. They improved on their 40–26 record from the previous season to finish 56–26, and they won their first Pacific Division title in franchise history. The title was clinched after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on April 7, which also completed a season sweep of their crosstown rivals, 4–0. The franchise had not swept the Lakers since 1974–75, when the Clippers were the Buffalo Braves.[1] It was also the first time in 20 years since 1992–93 that the Clippers won the season series against the Lakers.[2] Although this was enough to net them home-court advantage in a playoff series for the first time since 2005-06, they lost their first-round series to the Memphis Grizzlies in six games. Following the season, Hill and Odom both retired and Chauncey Billups re-signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons, where he would spend his last season in.
This was the last time a pacific division champion got eliminated in the first round until 2023, when the 2022–23 Sacramento Kings lost to the 2022–23 Golden State Warriors in seven games.
2016 second-round draft pick from Brooklyn The L.A. Clippers had the right to swap their own 2016 second-round pick with Brooklyn's 2016 second-round pick provided the Clippers' second-round pick was 31–55. If the Clippers' pick was 56–60, Brooklyn's obligations to the Clippers shall be extinguished. (Brooklyn-L.A. Clippers, 7/11/2012)
2013 second-round draft pick to Detroit The L.A. Clippers' own 2013 second-round pick to Detroit (top-55 protected in the 2013 Draft). If the Clippers' own 2013 second-round pick was in the top 55 picks, then the Clippers' obligations to Detroit shall be extinguished. [Detroit – L.A. Clippers, February 16, 2009]
2014 second-round draft pick to San Antonio The L.A. Clippers' own 2014 second-round pick to San Antonio via New Orleans (top-55 protected in the 2014 draft). If the L.A. Clippers' own 2014 second-round pick was in the top 55 picks, then the L.A. Clippers' obligations to San Antonio via New Orleans shall be extinguished. [L.A. Clippers – New Orleans, 1/26/2010 and then New Orleans – San Antonio, October 18, 2010]
2015 second-round draft pick to Houston The L.A. Clippers' own 2015 second-round pick to Houston via Toronto (if pick is 51–55). If the Clippers' own 2015 second-round pick was not among the 51st through 55th picks, then the Clippers' obligations to Houston shall be extinguished. [L.A. Clippers – Toronto, 1/7/2009 and then Houston – Toronto, July 28, 2010]
2015 second-round draft pick to Denver The Clippers' own 2015 second-round pick to Denver (top-55 protected in the 2015 draft). If the Clippers' own 2015 second-round pick was in the top 55 picks, then the Clippers' obligations to Denver shall be extinguished. [Denver – L.A. Clippers, 1/5/2009]
2016 second-round draft pick to New Orleans The Clippers' own 2016 second-round pick to New Orleans (top-55 protected in the 2016 Draft). If the Clippers' own 2016 second-round pick was in the top 55 picks, then the Clippers' obligations to New Orleans shall be extinguished. [L.A. Clippers – New Orleans, 8/12/2009]