On the heels of one of the best regular seasons of his NBA career, Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was hounded by Draymond Green on Wednesday and was held to 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting with five turnovers in L.A.’s home loss to the Warriors. In the fourth quarter of the do-or-die play-in game, the Clippers surrendered 43 points and blew a 13-point lead, ending their season.
Although the Clippers’ offseason is now underway, Leonard wasn’t ready to discuss his future immediately after the game. The star forward will be eligible this offseason to tack on up to two years to the one season left on his current contract, but he said those conversations could wait, as Ramona Shelburne of ESPN relays.
“Let me cry about this loss a little bit more,” Leonard said when asked his future with the Clippers. “We’ll have our discussions when that time comes.”
A Los Angeles native, Leonard prioritized a return home when he reached free agency in 2019 just days after winning a title in Toronto. Since choosing the Clippers that summer, he has signed two more extensions with the team, signaling his desire to remain in L.A. However, there has been speculation following in-season trades of James Harden and Ivica Zubac that the Clippers intend to retool their roster around a younger core. If that’s the case, Leonard probably won’t remain at the center of their plans going forward.
There has also been some discussion about whether Leonard will even be able to play out the final year of his current contract, which will pay him $50.3MM in 2026/27. Some league observers have predicted that if the NBA determines Leonard’s and the Clippers’ agreements with the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration were designed to circumvent the salary cap, it would result in the 34-year-old’s contract being voided.
Investigative reporter and podcaster Pablo Torre alleged the Clippers were using a no-show endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration to funnel the star forward additional money on top of his NBA salary, which the team and Kawhi have vociferously denied. Leonard told reporters after Wednesday’s loss that he’s not concerned about the findings of the investigation.
“I never thought about it too much other than questions asked,” Leonard said, per Shelburne, when asked if he knows the status of the probe. “You’ll have to ask the NBA, not me. I’m not the one doing the investigation. … I think we’re going to be in the clear. I’m not stressing it.”
Between the outcome of the Aspiration investigation and Leonard’s uncertain future in L.A., there are plenty of questions hanging over the two-time Finals MVP this summer. Fortunately, this time around, his health isn’t one of them. Leonard has been plagued in past years by health issues, but he said on Wednesday that his “body’s in a good place” and that his surgically repaired right knee wasn’t a problem at all in 2025/26, per Law Murray of The Athletic.
“I had no headaches with (the knee) the past two years, so I feel great,” Leonard said.
Kawhi & KD in HOU next year. Lets go! Kawhi for Eason, DFS 2027 1st rounder, 2030 first rounder.
If it falls apart next year in HOU, then ship out Durant (expiring), FVV for assets and build around Amen/Jabari/Alpie.
Your math on matching contracts doesnt work…
Math is hard. Toss in Jabari instead of a first round pick. Or toss Adams in the deal. Figure out the math for me.
Here, let me show you what you need here:
link to spotrac.com
This does all the contract/money-side work for you and your posited deals – have fun!
Fred, Kawhi, Amen, KD, and Alpie starting 5 for next seaon? :)))))))
Clippers do need a rebuild. No use in keeping Kawhi and then he hits free agency in 2027.
He is going to the Warriors. Draymond was already courting him during his postgame interview. Jimmy Butler and picks for Kawhi would be an easy transaction.
Stole my thunder, Mardy Collins Fan. Bring in Kawhi and perhaps check in again on the Giannis situation. Honestly, I prefer the idea of getting Murphy III for less. Last night was a great win – but this isn’t our season, Dubs fans. Next year could be.
I love the idea of flipping the whole roster minus Steph and getting Giannis, Kawhi and Murphy III as his help.
Not if hes voided. Then its a FA deal and GS can offer … the minimum.
Kawhi accept the minimum? I hope you guys offer uncle Dennis and Kawhi a nice house and no show deal to sweeten the pot. Leonard will go wherever pays him the most and everyone knows it.
Uncle Dennis screwed the flippers when he insisted on PG13. Horrible trade for the Filps and now OKC has a lottery pick
You know who else could feasibly be signed for the minimum?
Lebron.
GSW: Steph, Kawhi, Lebron, Giannis, Murphy III, Dray next year – lol
Why would the Clippers take Butler? Lolzzzzz. You want Kawhi. You better trade Moody or Santos or Podz in the deal.
The Clippers would take Butler for his cap hit – it would allow them cap space to make a run at Jokic or any big name FA coming up – plus Jimmy will play half of next year.
their contracts end at the same time and are about the same value. lmaooooooo
In addition to Jimmy, GSW’s FRP this year will still be a good one, that’s enough for a season of old Kawhi. That’s why LAC would do it.
Kawhi is such a beast on the court, it’s just like he doesn’t care to prove it anymore and after a couple big injuries he’s now not willing to play through pain at all.
Totally understandable you’ve got your whole life ahead of you and you’ve already proven yourself to everybody. But from a fans perspective you’d love to see him just push for 1 more good year before retiring early. I want to see him do something crazy like lock down Jokic from the elbows or something. Maybe go out and get a third title on a third team.
Doing it with Minnesota with Ant and Gobert that would be awesome
Nice to see Draymond both advocate for GSW acquiring Kawhi and also he clamped Kawhi in the second half. “Now you dont get to play vs me anymore” is a funny selling point from the most annoying guy in the league.
That 4Q was premium GSW basketball! Al Horford, Steph Curry, Draymond Green all put on their Sunday best. What a game, bring on the coward overrated Suns, Draymond is going to make Booker cry…GSW/OKC gunna be monumental…OKC dont have the heart of a champion, but we just saw last night who does!
I think we’re all rooting for GSW vs. OKC. This will make up for the first-round matchup we should’ve received in 2015 when KD and Russ were hurt and OKC barely missed the playoffs and would’ve faced GSW.
Or even last year, when Curry was dominating and in “destroy” mode when his hamstring snapped. The Wolves were never a WCF team, GSW with Curry was. We, the fans 100% deserved a OKC/GSW WCF, if anything for the “changing of the guard” narrative. The Wolves have never been part of the guard.