The Los Angeles Clippers’ 34-year-old star forward isn’t set to be a free agent until 2027.
The two-time NBA champion is in the midst of completing the second year of his three-year $149 million contract extension he inked with the Clippers in 2024, meaning a trade must be completed for him to leave Los Angeles this summer.
However, Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh believes there’s a world in which the Los Angeles Lakers could battle the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks for the two-time NBA Finals MVP’s services this summer.
“Maybe it’s a case where Adam Silver levies some sort of punishment, whether it’s forcing Kawhi Leonard’s contract to be invalidated,” Haberstroh stated last Monday. And I think that would be one of the things that is on the table, because that is what David Stern did with the Joe Smith cap circumvention with the Minnesota Timberwolves decades ago.”
“The interesting thing on that is it provides a conundrum where I think if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you’re now going to see a frenzy for his services, with the likes of the Lakers, with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, or the New York Knicks.”
“They would try to go get Kawhi Leonard at this stage as a free agent. That would create more hysteria and chaos around the league.”
While Haberstroh’s idea is undoubtedly far-fetched, it isn’t completely out of the equation. If it somehow materializes, the Lakers could position themselves to sign the accomplished veteran after striking out on him in 2019 (he entered free agency after winning a title with the Toronto Raptors and eventually joined the Clippers).
Leonard’s two-way dominance when healthy would make him an ideal fit in JJ Redick’s system in Los Angeles. The San Diego State product is contributing 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game with the Clippers this season, shooting 49.4% from the field and 38.1% from three-point land in 44 contests.
If anything, Haberstroh’s report emphasizes the importance of closely monitoring Leonard’s situation in Los Angeles.
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