During the offseason, the Clippers signed seven-time all-star Grant Hill and re-acquired Lamar Odom from the Dallas Mavericks.
They increased upon their 40–26 record from their previous season, which was affected by the 2011 NBA lockout, 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.
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.
[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).