The Los Angeles Clippers might have to deal their franchise superstar.
The Los Angeles Clippers underwent big changes at the NBA trade deadline when they traded two franchise stalwarts in an effort to get younger.
Despite pulling themselves out of a 6-21 to be in a Play-In position, the Clippers traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland.
They weren't done on the deadline, dealing center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin and what turned out to be the fifth overall pick.
In getting Garland, Mathurin, and the fifth pick, which the Clippers used to select Keaton Wagler, the Clippers reset their timeline around Kawhi Leonard, who is 35 years old and has one year remaining on a deal that will pay him $50 million this upcoming season.
Trading Kawhi Leonard?
Appearing on NBA TV, Chris Haynes stated that if an extension isn't worked out with Kawhi, the Clippers will look to trade him.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has balked at any idea of trading Kawhi in the past, reportedly turning down an offer from the Golden State Warriors at the 2026 deadline after Harden and Zubac were traded. It is unclear how far the talks got, but the Warriors were reportedly more confident than ever that a deal might get done.
Kawhi signed with the Clippers in 2019, fresh off an NBA Championship and Finals MVP with the Toronto Raptors.
Kawhi signing alone would've been enough to shift the league, but the deal became even bigger when the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George, who finished third in MVP voting in 2018-19, to the Clippers for a historic haul that included future two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a treasure trove of first round picks.
The deal happened because Kawhi wanted a second star to join him in Los Angeles.
A Good Move To Trade Kawhi?
If he's not going to sign an extension, the Clippers don't have any other choice.
They can't afford to lose him for nothing, not after they've invested this many resources over the years to try to build a competitive team around him. Though the Clippers only made it to the Western Conference Finals once since Kawhi signed, it was never for a lack of trying in terms of roster building.
George, Russell Westbrook, Harden, Bradley Beal, Chris Paul, and more were all brought in over the years to help Kawhi and the Clippers get to the top of the mountain.
It didn't work, and now the Clippers have shifted to a younger team where trading Kawhi might be the best option as they reload for the future.
