Cutoff/status: 2026-07-18; confirmed LAC two-way forward, age 22, acquired after being selected No. 55. NBA profile and contract update · Los Angeles Clippers
Baseline and 2026-27 projection
Martinelli averaged 23.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks and 1.4 threes in 35.6 minutes at Northwestern on .510/.809 shooting. ESPN college statistics
| GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | 3PM | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 9.0 | .465 | .800 | 0.4 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
Fantasy translation
- Nine-category / points: two-way watchlist only; the projection is his NBA appearance line, not a nightly role.
- Dynasty: deep stash in 250-plus-player leagues because college scoring feel is real, but there is no standard-contract security yet.
Role and scenarios
- Low: spends nearly the full season in San Diego.
- Base: 28 NBA appearances around injuries, averaging nine minutes.
- High: wing trades and efficient G League play lead to a standard conversion and 18-minute spring audition.
Martinelli posted 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Lakers and 19 points with three threes against Washington in Summer League. Those games support activity and touch, not an immediate standard-league role. NBA Lakers recap · NBA Washington recap
Confidence
| Roster | Minutes | Rate | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| High as two-way | Low | Low | High |
Career record
Pre-NBA: Four years at Northwestern, from a 20-game freshman cameo to back-to-back Big Ten scoring titles.
| Season | GP | MPG | PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 20 | 10.1 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | .512 | .500 | .500 |
| 2023-24 | 34 | 26.0 | 8.8 | 4.3 | 1.1 | .492 | .271 | .780 |
| 2024-25 | 33 | 37.6 | 20.5 | 6.2 | 1.7 | .471 | .333 | .728 |
| 2025-26 | 33 | 35.6 | 23.0 | 6.2 | 2.0 | .510 | .417 | .809 |
The senior year is the one that matters: 23.0 points on .510/.417/.809 with 1.4 threes, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks, a Northwestern single-season record of 759 points, AP first-team All-Big Ten, and second-team All-Big Ten for the second straight year. The jump from .271 to .333 to .417 from three across three seasons is the reason he was drafted at all. Draft: 2026, second round, 55th overall by New York; rights moved to Houston and then to the Clippers, who signed him to a two-way contract on July 6, 2026.
NBA record: None. Martinelli has not appeared in an NBA regular-season game. His most recent competitive basketball is the 2025-26 Northwestern season above, plus 2026 Summer League, where he posted 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Lakers and 19 points with three threes against Washington.
Durability: No reported injury history; he played 33 or 34 games in each of his last three college seasons.
Trajectory: A four-year college scorer who improved his jumper every season and left as one of the most productive players in Northwestern history, drafted 55th because scouts doubt the athleticism and lateral defense translate. He projects to spend 2026-27 with San Diego in the G League on a two-way, and the realistic NBA exposure is short call-up stretches. Fantasy relevance requires two things together: the Clippers thinning a crowded wing group by trade, and Martinelli shooting well enough in the G League to force a standard-contract conversion. Neither is likely inside this season.
Career sources: Wikipedia · ESPN college statistics · Inside NU draft report · NBA player profile
Open questions
- Can Martinelli defend NBA wings well enough to earn a standard contract?
- Does his scoring efficiency hold against G League length?
- Which wing transaction would create an actual NBA path?