The Los Angeles Clippers are facing a challenging situation following their slow start to the 2025-26 season where they are currently out of the playoff picture while also owing their unprotected first round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. One option could be to give up on the current season to reset their roster and timeline for the 2026 offseason by trading James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. According to NBA executives, Harden would be easier for the Clippers to trade than Leonard.
“James has maybe neutral value,” an East scout said. “Kawhi has negative value.”
Harden has a $42 million player option for the 2026-27 season, while Leonard is owed $50 million. Harden has been healthier and more durable than Leonard while still also competing at an All-Star level. Leonard’s checkered injury history and the NBA’s ongoing investigation into his Aspiration endorsement deal makes it more challenging for the Clippers to trade him.
The Clippers have been positioning themselves for the 2027 offseason when both Harden and Leonard are scheduled to come off their books. There are currently a number of star NBA players slated to become free agents in 2027. Ivica Zubac is the only player on the Clippers’ roster guaranteed to be signed for the 2027-28.
“There are a lot of ways to use cap space, and if they don’t believe in this core they could really turn their team over in a year if they got flexibility,” an assistant GM said. “You look at what they figured out in Phoenix. They had a team that was too old and turned over that roster and it changed their entire outlook.”
The Clippers could also try to shed $6.7 million off their salary cap to get under the luxury tax line and out of the repeater tax.