Could James Harden, Kawhi Leonard Be Traded? Latest NBA Rumors on Clippers' Plans

After the stunning decision to move on from Chris Paul earlier this week, the Los Angeles Clippers are at a crossroads with this iteration of their roster led by James Harden and Kawhi Leonard with no obvious path to follow that will get them back on track.

Per ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps, the Clippers could look to move off of the contracts for Harden and Leonard sooner than later with the goal of creating cap space to improve in the offseason.

Bontemps noted the Clippers have "indicated" a willingness to move up their capspace timeline from 2027 to 2026. One assistant general manager told Windhorst that creating flexibility could create a path for them to be competitive next season:

"There are a lot of ways to use cap space, and if they don't believe in this core they could really turn their team over in a year if they got flexibility. You look at what they figured out in Phoenix. They had a team that was too old and turned over that roster and it changed their entire outlook."

The difficult part for Clippers management figures to be finding trade partners for both of their star players.

In discussing the situation with people in the NBA, Bontemps noted the feeling is Harden could be easier to move than Leonard.

One scout for an Eastern Conference team told Bontemps that Harden has "maybe neutral value," but Leonard is considered to be "negative value" at this point.

Harden is owed $39.2 million this season with a $42.3 million player option in 2026-27. He's having a really strong year so far with 26.9 points, 8.4 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Leonard is making $50 million this season and $50.3 million next season. The six-time All-Star remains incredibly effective when he plays. He is averaging 25.9 points on 50.0 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, but he has missed 10 of 22 games thus far.

At this stage of their respective careers, neither player would likely bring back much of a return for a Clippers team that doesn't have control of their first-round pick until 2030.

The Clippers have reportedly been planning to keep their books clear for the summer of 2027 when the list of potential free agents still in their prime could include Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns.

There are also players in their mid-to-late-30s who could hit the market that summer, including Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant.

The upcoming crop of free agents isn't as strong with names like Trae Young, Zach LaVine and Kristaps Porziņģis at the top of the list. LeBron James is also a potential option, but he's not a long-term solution with his 41st birthday approaching on Dec. 30.

Even if the Clippers aren't trying to play in the free-agent pool this summer, there are always trade candidates available. If Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't get moved prior to the February deadline, he will certainly come up again in the offseason.

The Clippers don't look like a team capable of seriously competing for a playoff spot in the Western Conference right now, let alone a title. Their 6-16 record is ahead of only the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans in the West.