The next action following a front office’s realization that there is a liability on the roster is to trade or not offer another contract. This is a common approach, and in the process, challenges that can complicate a situation, such as financial issues, may arise and take a toll.
Last season, the Clippers had a liability in PJ Tucker. He was not playing, yet he opted into his $11.5 million player option in July of 2024, earning a quality NBA salary to work out and practice on his own until the front office traded him.
After half of the season had gone by, the Clippers traded Tucker to the Utah Jazz and had a sigh of relief, thinking their only major liability was gone.
But the Clippers recently witnessed the most significant liability they have ever had, rise in front of their very eyes, and it is through their best player, and face of the franchise, Kawhi Leonard.
Kawhi Leonard’s health and latest scandal make him a clear liability for the Clippers
The LA Clippers were easily able to put PJ Tucker on the trade block and wait for a team to do Lawrence Frank a favor. Time was taken, and the Utah Jazz came in clutch, but this will not be the case with Kawhi Leonard.
Moreover, the Clippers have a sporadic matter where their highest-paid player of $50 million is a clear liability. This all begins with his availability.
If Leonard were able to play at least 65 games consistently and healthily end each postseason, he would be viewed differently. On the contrary, the two-time champion has devoted six years under contract to LA thus far and only has 266 games played to show for it. This is not where the team’s big bucks should be going.
Although this was a major issue, the Clippers felt confident that Leonard would pick things up and had always seemed willing to keep him. They were ultimately hoping that the lowest points had already been reached, such as utilizing a full season of paid time off for knee recovery, and that nothing off the court would occur.
Conversely, the scandal surrounding Leonard has suppressed the hope LA had in him, and now he could miss even more games, showing that all of his absences equate to the fact that he is holding the Clippers back on and off the court in multiple ways.