Clippers Dismiss Trade Inquiries for Kawhi Leonard and James Harden
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LOS ANGELES — The Clippers have rejected multiple trade overtures for stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, as well as center Ivica Zubac, league sources told DallasHoopsJournal’s Ashish Mathur.
Despite a 6-20 start that has dropped the team near the bottom of the Western Conference, front-office officials are declining to dismantle the roster. The primary reason: Los Angeles does not own its 2026 first-round pick, which was sent to Oklahoma City in a previous deal. Trading core players now would primarily benefit the Thunder by improving that pick’s value.
Management believes a path to the play-in tournament remains, particularly once forward Derrick Jones Jr. returns from a knee injury, sources said. That optimism persists even though the Clippers rank near the league’s cellar in offensive and defensive efficiency and stand 27th in scoring.
Leonard, earning $50 million this season, is averaging 25.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 16 games while shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc. Harden, on a $39.2 million salary, has appeared in 25 contests and is posting 26.0 points and 8.1 assists per night. Zubac has added 16.2 points and 11.5 rebounds while converting more than 61 percent of his attempts.
Even with that production, Los Angeles has struggled to translate statistics into victories. Since Leonard signed in 2019, the franchise has reached the Western Conference Finals only once and is still shadowed by its 2020 second-round collapse after leading Denver three games to one.
The Clippers have missed the postseason just once since 2022, and, for now, plan to push forward with their current core rather than entertain trade discussions.
Source: Hoops Wire
