On September 18th, ESPN reporter Baxter Holmes reported that the Los Angeles Clippers no longer plan to build their future around Kawhi Leonard. Several league executives believe that Leonard will most likely fulfill the remaining two years of his 2024 contract extension, but whether he will stay with the team after that remains uncertain .

Since joining the Clippers in 2019, Leonard has brought tremendous expectations, but injuries have consistently plagued him. Over the past few seasons, he's been repeatedly sidelined by injuries, hindering the team's ability to consistently compete in the playoffs. While he can still perform at a top level when healthy, his excessive absences have made it difficult for the Clippers to rely on him for a long-term championship push.

More importantly, to meet Leonard's conditions, the Clippers traded young guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Paul George. A few years later, Alexander has blossomed into a league MVP and led the Thunder to their first championship in franchise history; while the Clippers have been unable to break through the Western Conference impasse and have fallen into an awkward position.

While the Clippers will likely continue to rely on Leonard's competitive value throughout his contract, management has already begun searching for a new core player. Leonard's reign may be winding down, and whether the Clippers can find a new pillar quickly will determine their future competitiveness and direction.