{"id":600566,"date":"2026-02-13T09:13:29","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T09:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/600566\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T09:13:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T09:13:29","slug":"nba-trade-rumors-los-angeles-clippers-predicted-to-cut-ties-with-152-4-million-superstar-prior-offseason-after-blockbuster-james-harden-departure-nba-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/600566\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA trade rumors: Los Angeles Clippers predicted to cut ties with $152.4 million superstar prior offseason after blockbuster James Harden departure | NBA News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NBAKawhi Leonard #2 and James Harden #1 (no longer in the team) of the LA Clippers during the game against the Utah Jazz (Image via Getty Images) The Los Angeles Clippers may be heading toward a rebuild after trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal brought back Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick, a move that suggests the franchise is thinking beyond a short title window and focusing more on youth and financial flexibility.That shift places Kawhi Leonard at the center of the team\u2019s next decision. Leonard is under contract through the 2026-27 season on a deal worth about $50.3 million in its final year. If the Clippers believe they are no longer contenders, they could trade him rather than risk losing him in free agency with no return.(Disclaimer: The data and analysis in this post are based on conjecture as of right now. Although the information is based on reliable sources, it’s crucial to remember that these are not official declarations or verified actions. It is advised that readers use caution when interpreting this analysis and wait for official updates as the offseason progresses.)<\/p>\n

James Harden trade points to a younger roster<\/p>\n

Darius Garland, 26, gives the Los Angeles Clippers a reliable point guard who can lead the offense for several years. Unlike Harden, he does not carry the same durability concerns and fits better with a roster that appears to be getting younger.The trade also signals that the team is no longer committed to building around an aging core. Instead, the focus looks to be on draft assets, cap control, and players who can grow with the franchise.<\/p>\n

Contract situation could drive a Kawhi Leonard trade<\/p>\n

Kawhi Leonard signed a three-year extension worth roughly $152 million. He will be 35 entering the final season of that deal, which makes his timeline different from a team that may not be ready to compete immediately.Any trade would likely follow a simple structure: the Clippers move Leonard for younger players, future picks, and possibly expiring contracts to reduce salary obligations.Typical expectations include: \u2022 Young players with upside \u2022 At least one first-round pick \u2022 Possible second-round picks or swap rights<\/p>\n

Illustrative framework<\/p>\n

\"Kawhi<\/p>\n

Kawhi Leonard (Image via NBA)<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Clippers receive<\/p>\n

\u2022 One or two rotation players aged roughly 23-27 \u2022 One or two first-round picks \u2022 Additional seconds or swap rights<\/p>\n

Trading partner receives<\/p>\n

\u2022 Kawhi Leonard on an expiring contract \u2022 A minor contract if needed for salary matchingSuch a deal would help the Clippers avoid heavy luxury-tax pressure while giving another team a high-level player without a long-term commitment.<\/p>\n

What each side gains<\/p>\n

Clippers<\/p>\n

\u2022 Salary flexibility after moving a $50M contract \u2022 More draft capital to add to picks projected between 2027 and 2032 \u2022 A younger core built around Garland, John Collins, Derrick Jones Jr., and developing players<\/p>\n

Kawhi Leonard<\/p>\n

\u2022 A chance to compete for another title \u2022 An opportunity to strengthen his value before free agency<\/p>\n

Acquiring team<\/p>\n

\u2022 A proven two-way wing when healthy \u2022 Immediate playoff help without a multi-year risk<\/p>\n

Pros and cons for Los Angeles Clippers<\/p>\n

Pros<\/p>\n

\u2022 Avoid relying on one expensive player \u2022 Trade Leonard while his value remains strong \u2022 Stay consistent with the direction set by the Harden trade<\/p>\n

Cons<\/p>\n

\u2022 Loss of the team\u2019s top player \u2022 Return packages may depend on unproven talent \u2022 Lower ceiling in the Western Conference in the short term<\/p>\n

Teams that could show interest in Kawhi Leonard<\/p>\n

Miami Heat<\/p>\n

Miami\u2019s defensive identity makes Leonard a natural fit next to Bam Adebayo.Example package: Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovi\u0107, Kel\u2019el Ware, a protected 2027 first, and a 2029 second.<\/p>\n

Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n

Golden State could use another defender and scorer on the wing to support Stephen Curry.Example package: Andrew Wiggins, Moses Moody, a 2028 first, and a 2030 second.<\/p>\n

Cleveland Cavaliers<\/p>\n

Adding Leonard to a group that includes Harden and Garland would give Cleveland a strong core.Example package: Evan Mobley or Isaac Okoro plus a 2027 first.<\/p>\n

San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n

A reunion is possible given the Spurs\u2019 young roster and draft assets.Example package: A young wing, a 2027 first, and a 2029 second.<\/p>\n

Toronto Raptors<\/p>\n

Leonard already has championship history in Toronto.Example package: Immanuel Quickley, Chris Boucher, and a 2027 first, though Scottie Barnes would likely be unavailable.<\/p>\n

Risk and reward for both sides<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 risks<\/p>\n

\u2022 Reduced competitiveness after the trade \u2022 The return may depend heavily on Leonard staying healthy elsewhere<\/p>\n

Clippers\u2019 gains<\/p>\n

\u2022 A stronger collection of assets \u2022 Long-term cap flexibility<\/p>\n

Contender risks<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ongoing injury concerns; Leonard played only about five games early in the 2025-26 season \u2022 The possibility he leaves after one year<\/p>\n

Contender gains<\/p>\n

\u2022 A player capable of changing a playoff series \u2022 No long-term financial obligation<\/p>\n

Kawhi Leonard 2025-26 stat snapshot<\/p>\n

Stat categoryKawhi Leonard (2025-26, small sample) Games played 5 Minutes per game 32.8 Points per game 23.8 Rebounds per game 6.0 Assists per game 3.4 Steals per game 2.2 FG% (approx.) ~50%+ on high-efficiency looksLeonard was also selected to the 2026 All-Star Game at Intuit Dome, a reminder that he remains highly effective when available.<\/p>\n

Possible outcome of a trade<\/p>\n

If the Los Angeles Clippers move Leonard and receive young players plus multiple first-round picks, they could reshape the roster quickly while maintaining financial control. For a contender, acquiring him could raise the team from competitive to serious title threat.The downside is clear. If injuries limit his availability, the Clippers may not get full value, and the acquiring team could give up significant assets for little return.Also read: NBA trade rumors: Golden State Warriors could chase $11 million Miami Heat star for promising Jimmy Butler reunion ahead of postseason<\/a>The decision will likely come down to timing. Keeping Leonard preserves star power but carries risk. Trading him would confirm a reset and shift the franchise toward its next phase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kawhi Leonard #2 and James Harden #1 (no longer in the team) of the LA Clippers during the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":600567,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3789],"tags":[7,559,79120,33490,45981,4034,192,4032,251,135,80172,4033,4031,6,30733,1783],"class_list":{"0":"post-600566","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-clippers","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-clippers","10":"tag-darius-garland-clippers","11":"tag-james-harden-trade","12":"tag-kawhi-leonard-trade-rumors","13":"tag-la","14":"tag-la-clippers","15":"tag-laclippers","16":"tag-los-angeles","17":"tag-los-angeles-clippers","18":"tag-los-angeles-clippers-rebuild","19":"tag-losangeles","20":"tag-losangelesclippers","21":"tag-nba","22":"tag-nba-trade-predictions","23":"tag-nba-trade-rumors"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116062559786060815","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600566","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=600566"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600566\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/600567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=600566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=600566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=600566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}