When he is actively on cue, franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard is worth every cent the LA Clippers’ front office spent on his contract extension. He brings value to the court with his superb offensive strengths while still being able to cover the ground defensively with his quick feet and outstretched hands.
Yet, when Leonard is wounded on the sidelines, fans and the NBA community feel nothing but sorrow on the Clippers’ part. Instead of waiting on Leonard to finally deliver with the season up in the air, they offered him a max extension amid last January. This was a mistake, as the two-time champion was hurt in the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Leonard’s value at this stage in his career is still in the spectrum of $40 million annually, but executive Lawrence Frank went overboard and paid him $150 million across three seasons. This is not a major overpay in salary, but it would still be changed if the Clippers could enter a time machine.
Furthermore, Leonard’s age and history are the primary reasons his value has plummeted, given his constantly questioned health status. He has fought through numerous lower-extremity injuries, and at nearly 34 years of age, the Clippers must be realistic with their expectations of him.
Nonetheless, the Clippers have a Leonard problem regarding his age and contract that is being avoided in conversation.
Kawhi Leonard is aging and will likely not live up to his extension by the time it is over
Kawhi Leonard has been known for crushing opponents in the postseason since he was a San Antonio Spur. He is one of the few players in NBA history who is elite in the regular season and still has the potential to rise to a higher standard in a seven-game series.
Conversely, Leonard is under a max contract through the 2026-27 regular season. This is worrisome, as he is only growing in age, and the injury concern is steadily increasing.
Performance-wise, the six-time all-star has seen a downfall in points, rebounds, and assists over the last three seasons. Context matters as he has taken time to recover from severe injuries. However, paying him approximately $50 million a year at 35 should have caused Lawrence Frank to think twice before submitting his offer.
Now, the Clippers must operate around a healthy Leonard and hope he maintains good health. If he faces another setback, the front office will have to bear the consequences of paying him a max-level income.