The LA Clippers posted a birthday message for Kawhi Leonard on Monday, and the internet did what the internet does. They laughed. Hard.
Leonard turned 35, and the team’s official X account put out a graphic wishing him a happy one. “HBD TO THE KLAW,” they wrote, asking fans to join in. But the comments section told a different story. Clippers fans, already bracing for a potential breakup, saw the post as ironic timing. Toronto Raptors fans, who’ve been linked to a Leonard reunion in trade talks, piled on too.
The joke writes itself when your franchise player’s name is floating around in trade rumors on his birthday.
The offer on the table
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Tomer Azarly, the Raptors have engaged the Clippers in trade conversations. Toronto’s reported offer includes former All-Star Brandon Ingram, 22-year-old sharpshooter Gradey Dick, and a first-round pick. But the Clippers aren’t biting.
Azarly reported Monday that the team has been “underwhelmed” by what Toronto is offering. Sources described the proposal as “one-sided,” per Azarly. The Clippers are listening to calls, but they haven’t found the right deal yet.
It’s a weird place to be. Leonard led the Clippers to their first Western Conference finals appearance in franchise history back in 2021. But injuries have limited him to 52 games or fewer in three of the last four seasons. The team hasn’t won a playoff series since that 2021 run. Now the front office has to decide if they want to reset or keep riding with a star whose body keeps betraying him.
What’s next for Kawhi and the Clippers
No deal is done. The Clippers could still hold onto Leonard and run it back. But the fact that they’re even entertaining calls tells you something. Teams don’t field offers for healthy superstars entering their mid-30s unless they’re thinking about the future.
Leonard has a player option for 2026-27 worth about $50 million. He could opt out and become a free agent. Or he could stay and force the Clippers to commit even more money to a roster that hasn’t worked. The Raptors offer is reportedly still on the table. Other teams might jump in if the price drops.
For now, the Clippers are stuck in that awkward middle ground between contending and rebuilding. And fans are left joking that the team’s birthday post was the funniest thing they’ve done all season.
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