New Kawhi Leonard Trade Rumors Reveal 'Multiple Teams Monitoring' Clippers Star Ahead of NBA FA

Multiple NBA teams are keeping an eye on Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard with free agency drawing closer, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

"There are multiple teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard here over the next few weeks," Charania reported Tuesday (h/t RealGM).

"I don't think the draft is necessarily dependent on Kawhi Leonard's future, but I think in the coming days and weeks we'll start to learn a little bit more about the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and a potential outside team as well," he added.

Leonard has one season left on a three-year extension that he signed with the Clippers in 2024. He'll earn $50.3 million for the 2026-27 season before hitting free agency in 2027 (via Spotrac).

Considering Leonard will be 35 years old at the start of next season and Los Angeles missed the playoffs with a 42-40 record during its 2025-26 campaign, it's understandable that opposing teams could see if a change of scenery occurs.

Still, ESPN's Anthony Slater reported Wednesday that Clippers governor Steve Ballmer "has maintained a firm stance against a Leonard trade" and prefers to build around the forward.

The seven-time All-Star is coming off an impressive individual year, earning All-NBA Second Team honors and finishing No. 7 in MVP voting.

Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three-point territory.