Kawhi Leonard
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 01: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers reacts as he leaves the court after a stop in play against the Denver Nuggets in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome on May 01, 2025 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Clippers created a roster shakeup ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. After spending months denying major changes for the Kawhi Leonard-led team, the Clippers sent two key players packing.
James Harden landed on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Ivica Zubac went to the Indiana Pacers. The team that entered the 2025-2026 NBA season looking like a surefire contender suddenly lost the players they claimed they wouldn’t move, despite going on one of the hottest streaks the league has seen this season.
Potential Lakers 2027 free agency target Kawhi Leonard
GettyClippers’ Kawhi Leonard during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers in December 2025
Are The Clippers Still Contenders?
Kawhi Leonard doesn’t say much publicly, but when he addressed the Clippers’ contending status on Thursday night, he didn’t sugarcoat it.
With all of the roster changes midway through the year, and an NBA Play-In bid likelier than a playoff bid, Leonard doesn’t seem to believe that there is enough time left for the Clippers to stun the basketball world.
“Just developing over time. I think it’s over now,” Leonard told reporters after the Clippers’ tight victory over the Denver Nuggets. “It’s the second half—like fourth of the season left—but every day is a day to grow, a day to learn, and a day to get better. You just got to keep looking over time and we’ll see in two weeks if we get better. We’ll see what happens from there.”
Bleacher Report
Kawhi thinks the chances of LAC contending this year are ‘over’
(via @joeylinn_)
The Clippers have won two games in a row. They are 27-28 on the year, going 6-4 over their past 10 games. Although they are in the Play-In picture at the moment, the Clippers have just a 0.5 game lead over the 10th-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. The Memphis Grizzlies are far behind with a 20-33 record.
Missing the playoffs is far from a guarantee for Leonard and the Clippers. Depending on where they land in the spring, it could take just a game or two to pick up one of the bottom two seeds in the Western Conference. Where they go from there is where Leonard has his questions. Being a two-time champion, Leonard knows what it takes to win it all in the NBA. Clearly, he has the eyes of a skeptic for his team at the moment.
What Does The Future Hold For Kawhi Leonard?
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard
GettyKawhi Leonard and James Harden on the Clippers.
The Kawhi Leonard era with the Clippers has had its ups and downs, but the ultimate goal hasn’t been reached. With the Clippers making more moves for the future at the deadline, it once again sent a signal across the league that the Leonard era could be running its course.
After making $50 million in 2025-2026, Leonard will have just one more season left on his deal. Next year, Leonard is slated to make $50.3 million. Beyond that, he’s a free agent.
The Clippers parted ways with Paul George two seasons ago, putting an end to the short-lived star trio of Leonard, George, and Harden. When Harden got shipped to Cleveland, it left Leonard on his own. Before the 2025-2026 season even started, league-wide rumors suggested that Leonard and the Clippers were unlikely to lock in another long-term agreement. A disappointing start to the season followed, sprinkling in some doubt about Leonard’s chances of finishing the season with the Clippers.
Teams attempted to pry Leonard away from the Clippers ahead of the deadline, but inquiries were shot down. The Clippers might not have been ready to cut ties in February, but where their head will be at in June is a different story. Leonard’s future is uncertain, but the star forward doesn’t seem confident in his team at this time.