Clippers Double Down on Kawhi Leonard—And It’s a Meltdown in the Making

In a move that’s raising more eyebrows than optimism, the LA Clippers are reportedly choosing to rebuild around Kawhi Leonard—a strategy that sounds bold on paper but looks increasingly like a recipe for heartbreak.

Whispers around the league, confirmed by several June 2025 reports from ESPN and The Athletic, say the front office has decided to keep Leonard as the centerpiece of the franchise despite another disappointing playoff exit and continued durability issues.

If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The Clippers have been here before.

And it didn’t end well.

The Front Office Is Doubling Down—Again

According to insider sources, Steve Ballmer and the Clippers’ leadership aren’t ready to let go. They believe the path forward isn’t a teardown but a retool—surrounding Kawhi with younger, more durable talent and hoping his leadership (and health) will hold for one more run.

But fans aren’t buying it. And honestly? They shouldn’t.

Kawhi Leonard, now entering the twilight of his prime at age 33, is no longer the indestructible force he was in 2019. Since joining the Clippers in 2019, he has played in fewer than 60% of regular-season games. His postseason availability has been even more questionable.

How Many Second Chances Does One Star Get?

When Kawhi joined LA, expectations were sky-high. He was the silent assassin, the Finals MVP who took down a dynasty, the hometown hero ready to deliver the Clippers their first-ever championship.

Fast forward five years: no championships, multiple playoff collapses, and an injury report longer than a CVS receipt.

Yet the franchise keeps betting it all on him.

Why?

Because Kawhi Leonard—when healthy—is still elite. He’s surgical on offense, suffocating on defense, and emotionally unshakeable. But “when healthy” has become the biggest if in the entire NBA.

The Numbers Don’t Lie—But the Clippers Might Be

Let’s break it down:

Since 2019, Kawhi has missed over 140 regular-season games.

He’s been unavailable for at least part of every playoff run.

Despite his talent, the Clippers haven’t made it past the Western Conference Finals with him.

And yet, the team is reportedly passing on a full rebuild in favor of “one last run.”

That would be admirable—if it weren’t delusional.

A Legacy Built on Hope, Not Reality

This isn’t about questioning Kawhi’s talent. It’s about questioning the logic of building around someone whose body has clearly begun to betray him.

The most dangerous part? The franchise is selling fans a dream they’ve already woken up from once.

They’re marketing “unfinished business.” They’re pushing optimism. They’re posting workout videos and smiling training camp photos. But deep down, even the most loyal Clippers fan has to feel the dread creeping in.

We’ve seen this movie before. And we know how it ends.

Young Core? Or Just Another Band-Aid?

The supposed “rebuild” involves keeping Kawhi and pairing him with younger, injury-resistant role players. Names like Terrence Mann, Bones Hyland, and possibly even new draft picks are being thrown around as part of this new supporting cast.

But let’s be honest: role players can’t carry broken blueprints.

If your entire foundation is a superstar who can’t stay on the court in May or June, then all the spacing, ball movement, and energy in the world won’t matter.

Fanbase Fatigue Is Real

Clippers fans are some of the most loyal in basketball—but also some of the most traumatized.

They’ve sat through “Lob City” meltdowns, Donald Sterling scandals, and now the Kawhi-Paul George era of almosts and injuries. The promise of a title has dangled just out of reach for over a decade.

Now, they’re being told that another run built around a fading star is the way forward.

It’s not just disappointing.

It’s exhausting.

What the League Really Thinks

Privately, other NBA executives are baffled. According to a June 2025 report from Bleacher Report, at least three rival GMs expressed shock that the Clippers didn’t initiate a full teardown.

“They’re riding it into the ground,” one GM said. “It’s like they’re scared to admit it didn’t work.”

Another executive added, “Ballmer is loyal—but loyalty doesn’t win rings.”

What Should the Clippers Do Instead?

If the Clippers truly want to reset—not just for optics, but for actual, sustainable success—the honest, difficult path requires a complete reevaluation of their priorities. That starts with facing the uncomfortable truth: the Kawhi Leonard experiment has not delivered on its promise. And the longer they cling to it, the more delayed their recovery becomes.

So what should they do?

Trade Kawhi Leonard While He Still Has Value

Yes, it’s controversial. Yes, it would sting. But Kawhi Leonard still holds value on the market, especially among teams that are one piece away from contention. Think Philadelphia, Miami, or even a sleeper like the New York Knicks or Dallas Mavericks. These teams could offer draft capital, young prospects, or even veterans that better align with the Clippers’ long-term outlook.

Keeping Kawhi out of nostalgia or fear of backlash is not a strategy. It’s an emotional decision in a league that punishes hesitation. Moving him now would allow the franchise to regain control of its future—not be chained to a past that keeps rewriting itself in disappointment.

Commit Fully to a Youth Movement

There’s talent on this roster. Terrence Mann, Bones Hyland, Amir Coffey, and other young assets have shown flashes of growth. But flashes aren’t enough—they need structure, time, and space to develop. That only happens when a franchise creates an environment where youth isn’t just tolerated—it’s prioritized.

This means unloading expensive veterans, avoiding stopgap signings, and embracing the grind of a rebuild. It also means building a cap-flexible future where the Clippers can pounce when the right free agent or trade opportunity presents itself.

Rebuild the Culture—Not Just the Roster

The problem isn’t just personnel—it’s identity. For too long, the Clippers have defined themselves by who they aren’t: not the Lakers, not the underdogs anymore, not a rebuilding team. But that ambiguity has led to inconsistency, both on and off the court.

It’s time to build a culture rooted in accountability, resilience, and transparency. That means hiring development-first coaching staff, creating a player-first environment, and establishing leadership that resonates in the locker room. Rebuilding a roster without reshaping the culture is like repainting a sinking ship.

The Hard Truth

Will it be painful? Yes.

Will fans push back? Absolutely.

But short-term pain is always better than long-term stagnation. Admitting failure is not the end—it’s the beginning of a more honest future.

By clinging to what could have been, the Clippers are missing out on what could still be. Every year they delay this reset, they drift further from relevance—and closer to irrelevance.

Conclusion: It’s Not Just Risky. It’s Reckless.

The Clippers rebuilding around Kawhi Leonard might be the boldest bet in sports right now—but bold doesn’t mean smart. Not when the evidence stacks up against the gamble. Not when the cracks are already visible from the rafters to the floorboards.

Sometimes, the scariest thing in sports isn’t failure.

It’s refusing to learn from it.

The Clippers have had the blueprint. They’ve had the stars. They’ve had the headlines.

Now they have a choice:

Keep building on a cracked foundation—

Or tear it down and start again before the entire franchise collapses under its own delusion.