Clippers Preparing for Change Amid Struggles
The Los Angeles Clippers are entering the new year with a surprisingly short four-game winning streak, the longest in the NBA right now, after their recent win against the Detroit Pistons, who are leading the Eastern Conference. It’s a bit ironic because despite this streak, the Clippers are still near the bottom of the league with one of the worst records, a situation worsened by the trade that sent Paul George to the Thunder, yielding an unprotected first-round draft pick for Oklahoma City.
This season, expectations were a bit higher for the Clippers, though they weren’t exactly seen as championship favorites. They ranked ninth in preseason power assessments. There was a belief that the combined strength of veterans like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden could mitigate the loss of Norm Powell. Yet, the decline of their defense has been staggering—falling from third in the league last season to a dismal 26th this year. While Leonard and Harden have performed decently individually, it feels irrelevant when the team defense struggles this much.
It’s tough to overstate how dire the Clippers’ situation is, both now and looking ahead. The team doesn’t regain control of their first-round draft picks until 2030; it’s a complicated web with picks owed to teams like Oklahoma City and Philadelphia. The management is seemingly banking on improving the team enough to compete in 2026 and 2027. They might be eyeing a big free-agent acquisition then when most contracts expire, except for Ivica Zubac.
Right now, with a 10-21 record, the Clippers aren’t facing much competition, and the aging roster isn’t likely to improve. Even if they manage to snag a play-in spot ahead of teams like Portland and Dallas, it’s hard to envision them advancing far, especially against a dominant Thunder team. Perhaps, it might be time to showcase highlights from Leonard’s impressive 55-point game against the Pistons and explore trade options.
As we glance toward 2026, the trade market is bubbling with rumors. Players like Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, Trae Young, and Ja Morant are likely on the move. Could Leonard emerge as a highly sought-after name? Particularly given that there’s chatter from Dallas about whether to trade Davis at a discount.
Now, you might wonder why any team would take on Leonard, a 34-year-old known for injuries and having a tricky reputation. Still, there are potential benefits:
- Trading for Kawhi could yield at least two playoff seasons before his contract expires.
- His contract of $50.3 million, due to expire next year, makes him either a trade asset or a way to reset a franchise’s finances.
- Even if his play isn’t what it used to be, he still represents one of the better two-way players, showcasing elite mid-range shooting and remnants of past defensive accolades.
This season, Kawhi ranks in the top percentile for offensive performance, showing decent reliability by playing in 21 of 31 games, making a case for All-NBA honors—a bit shocking given the Clippers’ overall struggles.
However, matching Leonard’s salary in any trade is a tough puzzle, especially while trying to keep cap space open for 2027. The draft picks could be a tempting prospect for the Clippers, though it might necessitate some maneuvering to regain some financial flexibility.
Speaking of trades, I have a rather bold one in mind.
Picture this: sending Leonard back to the Raptors, the team that won the 2019 championship with him. In this scenario, Toronto would snag a capable backup big man, Brook Lopez, likely needing a 2027 unprotected first-round pick and a 2029 swap. It’s feasible and could give the Raptors a shot at contention in the relatively weak Eastern Conference.
Trading Kawhi to the Spurs, while tempting, seems a stretch given the current dynamics; however, here’s another thought:
If the Lakers were to make a drastic move, trading Kawhi for Austin Reeves might make headlines, especially considering their age difference. The Lakers will need to consider if they want to re-sign Reeves, who shows weaknesses defensively alongside stars like Luka Doncic—but, admittedly, this is more of a fun thought experiment than a solid proposal.
Meanwhile, the Pistons, fresh off witnessing Kawhi’s scoring prowess, could see value in acquiring him. Robinson’s minimal guaranteed salary post-next season and Harris’ expiring contract could free up significant cap space for the Clippers in 2027. Meanwhile, adding Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Leonard without surrendering key younger players seems like a windfall for Detroit.
Of course, some will argue that Leonard would prefer to stay in Los Angeles. But despite his significant salary, it’s important to note he isn’t the one calling the shots due to his no-trade clause. His previous hesitations about moving to Toronto before the 2018-19 season proved pivotal for his legacy.
Trading Kawhi could mean giving up a prime draft pick to the Thunder, but it would remove the burden of a sunk cost. The Clippers ultimately need to acknowledge the realities of their current competitive window closing and find a way to gather future assets from him to build for what’s next.
With playoff hopes slipping away and lingering controversies impacting the franchise, it might finally be time for the Clippers to step away from the Kawhi chapter and focus on future opportunities. He still holds considerable value for teams in pursuit of a championship—but, unfortunately, that team no longer appears to be the Clippers.
