Clippers committed to Leonard, Harden and eyeing roster upgrade
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Los Angeles — The Clippers have no intention of breaking up their core of Kawhi Leonard and James Harden and are instead looking for ways to bolster the roster, according to league sources cited by Sam Amick of The Athletic.
The report indicates that the front office is interested in acquiring an additional impact player rather than moving veterans for future assets. The stance comes as the team rides a five-game winning streak that has pulled it within 2.5 games of the Western Conference Play-In Tournament line currently held by the Portland Trail Blazers and 9.5 games behind the sixth-place Minnesota Timberwolves.
Harden, 36, owns a $42 million player option for the 2024-25 season and is widely expected to exercise it. Leonard, 34, is under contract for $50 million this season and the same amount next year, giving the Clippers a defined financial framework they do not plan to exceed.
Amick noted that Los Angeles aims to preserve salary-cap flexibility through the summer of 2027 and is reluctant to add deals that run beyond that timeframe. Team executives believe the club is moving in the right direction and see no signs Harden is seeking a departure.
“If there’s a player or two coming their way in that negotiation who can help with this current challenge, then that’s a discussion worth having,” Amick wrote, emphasizing that the organization does not view its roster as a “discount rack” for rivals despite its early-season struggles.
For now, the Clippers are focused on strengthening the supporting cast around Leonard and Harden while maintaining long-term financial flexibility.
Source: Hoops Wire
