New Kawhi Leonard Rumors on Heat Trade and Clippers Contract Pay Cut in NBA Free Agency
With one yr remaining on Kawhi Leonard’s present contract, the Los Angeles Clippers will entertain a team-friendly extension whereas additionally exploring commerce choices involving the star ahead.
On the most recent episode of The Hoop Collective podcast (begins at 36:40 mark), ESPN’s Tim MacMahon defined the Clippers would need Leonard to take a pay lower if the 2 sides discuss a brand new deal and they can even look into probably dealing him relying on how negotiations go:
“My understanding is if there’s going to be an extension there’s going to be some legitimate negotiations. This isn’t just, ‘can you take a little haircut?’ He’s going to have to take a pay cut, I believe, to extend with the Clippers. So, we’ll see. I think it’s extend him with a pay cut or explore the trade market. I think those are the two real options. And obviously with this youth movement, they’ve positioned themselves to where hey, if it’s explore the trade market, they’ve already kind of started the post-Kawhi transition despite the fact that they still have some picks that they owe.”
By The Athletic’s Sam Amickthe Miami Heat have Leonard on their “Plan B” record if they’re unable to work out a commerce with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
One potential vacation spot for Leonard if the Clippers look to commerce him may very well be the Golden State Warriors. They determine to be aggressive as they attempt to win at the least yet another title with Stephen Curry nonetheless enjoying at a excessive stage.
ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne reported in April that Golden State officers checked in with the Clippers about Leonard previous to the commerce deadline.
Amick, who additionally cited the Warriors as having curiosity, did word Leonard’s scenario is difficult for a lot of groups across the league scouring the commerce market as a result of “no one seems to know” if he is truly accessible.
The Clippers appeared to point throughout the 2025-26 season that they wished to reset issues. They traded Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers and James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in separate offers.
Those trades introduced Darius Garland and two first-round draft picks, together with one which turned the No. 5 choice in 2026, to the Clippers.
Leonard stepped up his sport by turning into top-of-the-line seasons of his profession. He averaged a career-high 27.9 factors on 50.5 p.c capturing, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per sport in 65 begins to complete seventh in MVP voting.
Given the place the Clippers are at with their roster proper now, Leonard’s match is unclear. If they consider there is a path to being a top-tier contender, extending him would make sense.
One potential sticking level in any Leonard commerce is Clippers governor Steve Ballmer. Slater reported on Wednesday that Ballmer has “maintained a firm stance” towards buying and selling Leonard and desires to proceed constructing round him.
The price to increase Leonard will probably be attention-grabbing as a result of Leonard’s success this season provides him some leverage in negotiations, however the counter to that will be he’ll flip 35 on June 29 and has a well-documented damage historical past.
Leonard is owed $50.3 million in 2026-27, the ultimate season of a three-year, $149.5 million signed in January 2024. He has spent the previous seven seasons with the Clippers.
Los Angeles hasn’t gained a playoff sequence since reaching the Western Conference Finals throughout the 2020-21 season.
