Kawhi Leonard’s summer buzz parallels the Spurs and Raptors in 2018

Surrounding speculation Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers begins to echo familiar territory as the franchise approaches a crucial offseason.

In the latest episode of Clutch Scoops, ClutchPoints NBA Insider Brett Siegel drew comparisons between Leonard’s current situation and the circumstances leading up to his trade from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors in 2018.

“I think if he’s still on the Clippers roster in the summer and his contract isn’t voided. He’ll be in the last year of his contract,” Siegel said. “I believe it’s around $50.3 million and no matter how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it’s going to be looked at as another scenario when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. The last year of his contract. He could still be a big part of a championship team.”

Leonard, 34, is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game in 41 appearances this season. He is shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three points and a record 91.2 percent from the free throw line in 32.8 minutes per game.

The Clippers were active at the trade deadline as they recalibrated their roster around Leonard. Los Angeles traded Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Benedict Maturin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round pick.

. @TomerAzarli and @BrettSiegelNBA live to talk about the NBA All-Star Game, tanking issues + some early NBA offseason data!https://t.co/duIKN4TFkL

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 19, 2026

The Clippers are reshaping the roster at the deadline as Kawhi Leonard’s offseason future looms

In a separate move earlier in the trading cycle, The Clippers also dealt James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garlandsignaling a broader shift toward reshaping their core while retaining offensive firepower.

Siegel noted that from a front office perspective, exploring a Leonard trade this summer could align more closely with the Clippers’ long-term outlook.

“From a front office standpoint and if you look at this through the lens of the future of the Clippers, it probably makes a lot more sense to trade him in the offseason,” Siegel said.

Los Angeles enters Thursday at 26-28, sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference after recovering from a 6-21 start. The Clippers return to action after the All-Star festivities when they host the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 PM PT.

With Leonard potentially entering the final year of his contract this summer, league watchers will be watching to see if the Clippers follow a path similar to the Spurs’ 2018 decision — a move that ultimately reshaped the championship landscape.