Kawhi Leonard’s future with the Los Angeles Clippers may not be as secure as many assumed heading into the offseason.
According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the expectation around the league for months was that Leonard and the Clippers would begin discussing a contract extension shortly after the season ended. Surprisingly, those talks have yet to happen.
“I was told this was months ago. I was told that after the season, at some point, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers would get together and begin discussing an extension. I was recently told those conversations have not happened yet. The Clippers want to focus on the draft, see how things unfold, and then come to Kawhi with a clearer plan and vision for the future.”
“I also want to point this out. Kawhi Leonard is entering the final year of his contract next season. And I’ve said this often on this show, star players do not like playing on expiring contracts. They want extensions. They want security. So this is what I can say without saying too much, because not much has happened yet.”
“If an extension is not agreed upon when both sides begin talking after the draft, I expect the Clippers to explore trading Kawhi. I do not expect him to stay and play out the final year of his deal without an extension. That’s a situation worth monitoring moving forward. He could become one of the biggest names available this summer if things don’t work out between him and the Clippers.”
Instead, the Clippers have chosen to focus on the NBA Draft before turning their attention to Leonard’s contract situation. While that might not sound alarming on the surface, Haynes pointed out an important reality.
Star players rarely enjoy entering the final year of their contracts without long-term security. Leonard is entering the final season of his current deal and is set to earn $50.3 million in 2026-27. He becomes extension eligible on July 6, and according to Haynes, the outcome of those future discussions could dramatically alter the Clippers’ offseason plans.
That immediately turns Leonard into one of the biggest potential names on the trade market.
The timing is particularly fascinating because Leonard is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. The 34-year-old averaged a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals while appearing in 65 games. For a player whose recent seasons have often been interrupted by injuries, simply staying on the floor was a major victory.
The Clippers also face difficult questions about their long-term direction. Leonard is now 34 years old. The Western Conference has become increasingly dominated by younger contenders such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. That reality makes every major financial commitment more complicated.
If extension talks fail, there would likely be no shortage of interested teams. The Golden State Warriors aggressively pursued Leonard before the trade deadline. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been linked to him in various reports. The Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat have also surfaced in speculation surrounding a potential blockbuster move.
For now, nothing appears imminent.
The Clippers still have time to negotiate an extension and keep their franchise cornerstone in Los Angeles. Leonard has repeatedly stated his desire to compete for championships, and the Clippers remain one of the league’s most ambitious organizations.
But the fact that extension talks have not even started this close to free agency has created real uncertainty.
What once looked like a routine offseason negotiation is suddenly becoming one of the biggest storylines in the NBA. And if the Clippers and Leonard fail to find common ground, one of the league’s most accomplished superstars could unexpectedly become available on the trade market this summer.
