When most stars play career-best basketball through a stretch of games, their trade value rises. However, with Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Tim Bontemps on the ‘Hoop Collective’ stated the opposite is in play for the LA Clippers, further suggesting there is no market for them in the NBA right now.
How are Clippers fans supposed to process this? It is difficult, as the news they would like to hear is that since Leonard and Harden have been dominating lately, teams around the association would be willing to give LA any asset of their choice.
Lawrence Frank ultimately wants to be the kid in the candy store, particularly shopping the Clippers’ stars for draft picks; yet, unfortunately, a different truth exists.
21 losses were likely the primary reason why the stock of Leonard and Harden plummeted
A player playing as he belongs on another planet, in a losing situation, automatically sees his value drop. If their production is not leading to wins, it is a multi-structured task to accurately presume their fit on a different team, especially with an adjusted usage.
James Harden and Kawhi Leonard have been winners all of their lives, but none of it matters this season. Losing 21 games did the utmost damage to their trade value, and based on what Tim Bontemps had to say, it is irreparable at this point.
Additionally, Bontemps made a point of clarifying his meaning. The basis of his claim about the neutral market for Leonard and Harden was that the LA Clippers would not receive anything legitimate in return.
It might be a combination of second-round picks, an unproven young player, or a high-end role-playing veteran. To the Clippers, this is just a bunch of mediocre assets that point to the wiser decision: keep Leonard and Harden.
On the contrary, the fanbase certainly feels that a five-game win streak, a recent 55-point performance from Leonard, and consistent greatness from Harden would fulfill every dream and aspiration regarding trades.
The reality, which hurts to be broken amid a great end to 2025, is that it all came too late. The duo began heating up long after the streaming hot water boiled over.
Thus, the front office must not lower the asking price for Leonard or Harden just because teams around the league feel differently about them. They are easily still one of the best one-two punches in the game.