Overview
- Reports this week say several NBA teams are actively monitoring Kawhi Leonard now that the draft has finished and the offseason trade window is opening.
- Leonard enters the final year of a three-year extension and is set to earn $50.3 million in 2026–27 before becoming a free agent in 2027.
- Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has publicly said he prefers to keep Leonard and build around him, a stance that shapes whether the team will engage serious trade talks.
- Multiple insiders warn that the Clippers would trade Leonard if they cannot reach an extension, and Los Angeles used draft moves such as selecting Keaton Wagler to begin protecting the roster against a possible departure.
- Leonard’s standout 2025–26 season increases demand from contenders, but his age and injury history complicate valuation and could limit the return the Clippers can secure.