Clippers reiterate long-term commitment to Kawhi Leonard in 2026

Clippers president Lawrence Frank confirmed the team's plan is to win with Kawhi Leonard long-term despite missing the playoffs.

Clippers commit to Kawhi long-term Following Kawhi Leonard's refusal to discuss his future after the Clippers' playoff loss to the Warriors on Wednesday, LA Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank reaffirmed the team's dedication to Leonard at his end-of-season press conference on Friday. Frank stated plainly, 'Our plan is to win with Kawhi.' He emphasized the organization's drive to keep winning and noted they would schedule discussions with Leonard at the right moment. Frank compared the upcoming talks to those in 2024, where the team laid out their vision and aimed for alignment with Leonard's goals before deciding to continue their partnership. ## Kawhi avoids future questions When pressed about his future plans after the loss, Kawhi Leonard deflected with a touch of sarcasm. 'Let me cry about this loss a little bit more,' he said. 'We'll have our discussions when that time comes.' Leonard has avoided giving clear answers about his next steps, but Frank's remarks suggest the organization remains focused on building a winning team around him. The team's recent dealings, including trades at the deadline, have fueled speculation about Leonard's future and the Clippers' direction. ## Kawhi's season and playoff absence Leonard, set to turn 35 in June, delivered the most productive offensive season of his career despite the Clippers missing the playoffs for the first time in his healthy seasons. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points across 65 regular-season games, marking his second season with over 60 appearances since 2018-19. The Clippers missed the postseason in 2021-22 as well, but that year Leonard was sidelined with a torn ACL. His production this season raises questions about how the team will pivot without playoff basketball. ## Trade deadline moves stir questions The Clippers made several impactful trades before the deadline, adding to uncertainty about Leonard's future and the team's long-term strategy. Los Angeles sent guard James Harden to Cleveland in exchange for Darius Garland, and later traded center Ivica Zubac to Indiana for a package featuring Bennedict Mathurin. These moves have intensified discussions about whether Leonard remains part of the Clippers' championship plans or if a rebuild could be in motion. ## Clippers emphasize competitive stance Frank pushed back on the idea that the team is rebuilding, pointing to 15 straight seasons of competition and the blend of youth and experience on the roster. 'I think we do have great hope and optimism with our future,' he said. 'Because as we build that bridge from competitive to contender, we've put ourselves in a very good position with emerging young players, draft capital and cap space going forward.' The executive highlighted the franchise's sustained competitiveness as a reason for confidence. ## NBA probe into Leonard's deal The season unfolded amid an NBA investigation into an endorsement agreement Leonard signed with Aspiration, a now-bankrupt former sponsor of the Clippers. Reports before the season indicated former Aspiration employees believed the endorsement could have been a way for the Clippers to bypass salary cap rules. The league opened an inquiry into Leonard's deal in September, though Frank stated Friday that the investigation did not affect the team's performance this year. 'If you know Steve, and know Steve's integrity, you know there's nothing to it,' Frank said, while declining to comment further on the ongoing probe.