The Kawhi Leonard era in Los Angeles is winding down. After seven seasons, one conference finals appearance and a whole lot of what-if, the Clippers are finally ready to turn the page. They drafted Keaton Wagler with the fifth pick in 2026. They have a young guard in Darius Garland. And now they have to figure out what to do with a 35-year-old star who still plays like an MVP when he’s on the floor.
Leonard just had his healthiest season in years. 65 games. Nearly 28 points a night. Elite efficiency. The problem is he only wants to sign an extension if the Clippers send him to one of two teams: the San Antonio Spurs or the Toronto Raptors. And the Raptors are reportedly putting together an offer that might finally get it done.
The catch? The Clippers don’t control their own first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. So they can’t just tank. They need to stay competitive while also getting younger. That’s a tightrope walk.
[IMAGE_1: Kawhi Leonard shooting over a defender in a Clippers uniform]
Push hard for Collin Murray-Boyles
Look, the Clippers don’t have a ton of leverage here. Leonard is in the final year of his contract and has basically narrowed his list to two teams. If they don’t deal him now, they risk losing him for nothing in free agency. So they might have to take whatever Toronto offers.
But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t ask for the moon. And for the Raptors, the moon is Collin Murray-Boyles. The 21-year-old forward was the ninth pick in 2025 and already looks like a future defensive star. He’s 6’7″, a little undersized for a big man, but in the playoffs he held his own against Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. In a seven-game series against Cleveland, he averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27 minutes. He shot 65.6% from the field.
He’s the kind of player who changes a franchise’s defensive identity. The Raptors will almost certainly refuse to include him. They’re reportedly offering Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and an unprotected future first-round pick. The Clippers should fight for Murray-Boyles anyway. He would slot perfectly next to Garland and Wagler as the anchor of a young core.
[IMAGE_2: Collin Murray-Boyles defending in a Raptors jersey]
What about Jaylen Brown?
Brown might be on the move. The Celtics dangled him in trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo and whiffed. Now there’s smoke around Brown’s future in Boston. The Clippers have been linked to him, but the math doesn’t work.
They’re not trading Wagler before he plays a game. They don’t have the mid-sized contracts to package together. Their future draft picks are thin after years of sending picks to Oklahoma City. Even if they reroute whatever they get from the Raptors, it’s hard to see Boston taking a package headlined by Ingram. Brown to the Clippers looks like a long shot.
Free agent options worth exploring
[IMAGE_3: DeMar DeRozan driving to the basket]
The Clippers have been linked to DeMar DeRozan for months. He could hit free agency if the Kings decline his $25 million option. He doesn’t fit the new timeline, and the fit with Ingram is clunky if that’s the main piece coming back. Plus it’s unclear how DeRozan would feel about coming off the bench. But for the right price and role, bringing him home to Los Angeles could make sense.
Bennedict Mathurin is another name to watch. He came over from Indiana in the Zubac deal. He’s only 24, showed real fight in the 2025 playoffs and has room to grow. The Clippers might overpay to keep him just to preserve his trade value and build a stockpile of mid-sized contracts. It’s not the sexiest move, but it’s smart asset management.
John Collins is one of the few true power forwards left in the league. The Clippers have his Bird rights, but they might balk at paying a 28-year-old forward big money. Other teams are interested, so it depends on the price.
[IMAGE_4: Robert Williams III blocking a shot]
And then there’s the center situation. Brook Lopez is 38. Yanic Konan Niederhauser is recovering from a Lisfranc injury. Robert Williams III isn’t the most durable guy, but when he’s healthy he’s an elite shot-blocker and lob threat who could thrive with Garland and Wagler. He’s worth a look if the price is right.
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