Leonard arrived in L.A. with championship pedigree and, despite previous injury absences, produced one of his most durable and productive seasons. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points per game while playing 65 games, marking only the second time in his Clippers tenure he surpassed 60 appearances.
The Clippers have publicly committed to winning with Kawhi Leonard. Lawrence Frank, the team’s president of basketball operations, reiterated that the plan is to build around Leonard and that the organization remains confident in their long-term path with him.
That path has come with significant asset sacrifices. The Clippers traded away the 2026 first-round pick to pursue Leonard alongside Paul George in 2019, and they added James Harden in 2023, with George departing in free agency less than a year later. Harden was traded in February as part of the club’s ongoing attempts to reshape the roster.
Despite Leonard’s individual success, the team’s playoff results have been elusive. The 2021 run to the conference finals stands out, overshadowed by Leonard’s ACL injury in Game 4, with the subsequent years marked by injuries, close outs, and limited deep playoff runs.
Leonard remains under contract for at least one more season and is eligible for a two-year maximum extension this summer. There are no clear signs of friction, and Frank indicated the team plans further conversations with Leonard to determine if their goals are aligned and a path to continued collaboration can be achieved.
Ultimately, the Clippers plan to adjust after a veteran-heavy era that included Leonard, Harden, and George. The organization signals a renewed focus on building around Kawhi, with the understanding that, if goals align, they will advance together rather than relying on past plug-ins. The move described as a step toward a new approach—changing the veteran-heavy dynamic—reflects the franchise’s intent to chart a sustained path with Kawhi Leonard.
