The Los Angeles Clippers didn’t just shake things up at the trade deadline - they hit the reset button. After stringing together a win streak that suggested they might be gearing up for a playoff push, the Clippers instead chose to send James Harden and Ivica Zubac packing.
That’s not just a tweak. That’s a full pivot.
But here’s the twist: Kawhi Leonard is still in a Clippers uniform. For now.
Leonard, the face of the franchise since arriving in 2019, was the one major piece L.A. didn’t move. That’s raised some eyebrows around the league, especially given the direction the Clippers seem to be heading. According to reports, the expectation is that Leonard could be on the move this summer - and the logic is hard to argue with.
He’ll be entering the final year of his contract, set to make $50.3 million. That’s a massive number, especially for a team clearly leaning toward a rebuild.
If you’re the Clippers and you’ve already moved on from Harden and Zubac, keeping Leonard around for one more year of limbo doesn’t make a lot of sense. Trading him in the offseason allows them to continue stockpiling assets and fully commit to a new era.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Leonard isn’t just any expiring contract.
He’s still playing at a high level - averaging 27.9 points, 6.3 boards, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals in just under 33 minutes a night. That’s elite production.
And for teams with championship aspirations, the idea of adding a healthy Kawhi for one season - even as a rental - is going to be tempting.
Think back to 2019. The Raptors took that gamble, and it paid off with a title.
If Leonard can maintain this level of play, there are definitely front offices out there willing to talk themselves into a similar outcome. The math is simple: one year of Kawhi could be the difference between a deep playoff run and a parade.
Of course, there’s the financial side. That $50 million salary isn’t small change, and any team making a move for Leonard has to be ready to absorb that hit. But if the fit is right - and the belief is there that he can put a team over the top - the price becomes justifiable.
For the Clippers, this is about more than just clearing cap space. It’s about embracing a rebuild the right way - with draft picks, flexibility, and a clean slate.
Trading Leonard would be the final piece of that puzzle. It’s not an easy move, considering what he’s meant to the franchise, but it’s one that makes basketball sense.
So while Kawhi Leonard is still in Los Angeles today, don’t expect that to last forever. The Clippers are clearly turning the page. The only question now is when Leonard will join Harden and Zubac on the list of former Clippers - and what kind of haul L.A. can bring back when they finally make that call.