Kawhi Leonard and Ty Lue Have Very Different Feelings Over Clippers Future as $41.2M Decision Looms

The Los Angeles Clippers’ season came to a crashing halt with a blowout Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets, and in the aftermath, two of the organization’s biggest voices are heading into the offseason with vastly different tones. Kawhi Leonard looked emotionally drained and uncertain about the future. Ty Lue, on the other hand, sounded hopeful. And as the franchise stares down a critical offseason with $41.2 million committed to aging veterans like James Harden and Nicolas Batum, change might be closer than it appears.

After yet another early playoff exit, Kawhi Leonard admitted he was still processing the loss more than anything else. When asked what this healthy offseason means for him, Kawhi replied, “I’ll be able to start a training camp and be able to start the season, which would be great… but right now, the loss is still on my mind.”

Leonard didn’t sugarcoat how difficult it is to think ahead. Asked whether he feels encouraged moving forward alongside Harden, he was blunt: “I mean, I don’t know right now… I guess we still playing at a high level in a sense. But yeah, I mean, it’s a hard question to answer right now.” If anything fan would love to see the duo like they did in game 2. Kawhi? 39 points, Harden? 18 points with 7 assists.

Apr 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) warms up before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

That lack of clarity stands in stark contrast to the tone struck by Clippers coach Ty Lue. Despite the collapse, Lue remained upbeat about running it back next season with a healthy roster. “James had to carry such a heavy load with Kawhi missing 45 games… he did a great job with that,” Lue said. “And Kawhi coming back, being Kawhi, having confidence in his knee — those two together for a whole season would be tremendous.”

However, Leonard’s future is uncannily more important than the player himself. It not only affects Clippers’ ability to dip into transfers in the offseason, but also impacts how well they can keep hold of the stars already on the roster. LA have financial constraints that are not being helped by the age of the superstars they have on hand. They are in inadvertent need of a rebuild, but the question is, does it happen with Kawhi and Harden, or without?

$41.2 Million Looms Over LA’s Plans

The Clippers are looking at $41.2 million in salary locked into James Harden and Nicolas Batum alone for 2024-25. Harden, who will turn 36, is earning over $33.6 million next season. Batum, now 36, will make over $4.6 million. That’s a massive financial commitment to two veterans at the tail end of their careers — one of whom (Harden) had to carry the team through major stretches without Kawhi.

While Lue’s optimism stems from the belief that a healthy Kawhi-Harden duo can still deliver, the sheer financial weight of this roster raises questions. The $41.2 million tied up in those two contracts leaves little flexibility — and even less patience — for another early playoff exit. James has averaged 22.8 points per game this season, which is also at the age of 35.

Mar 30, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (1) argues a call with referee Curtis Blair (not pictured) during the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Heading into the first round, the Clippers-Nuggets matchup felt destined for seven games. And for six of those, it lived up to the billing. But Game 7 told a different story: Denver torched the Clippers 120-101, riding a balanced attack to knock LA out of the postseason once again. James was able to score only 7 points from 2-8 shooting. Now that does not yell 33.6M extension, does it?

Despite some early flashes from Derrick Jones Jr., Kawhi Leonard, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers were overrun by a Nuggets squad firing on all cylinders. And just like that, LA’s season ended in disappointment — again.

Now we have seen how Harden handles the situation in the absence of Kawhi, and we have also seen how the monstrous duo annihilate their opponents when in full health. The question that remains is, will the Clippers risk 41.2 million dollars? After Game 7’s poor performance and the childish behaviour of not attending the media questions, the fans sure hope for Harden to be traded.

Now, as the dust settles on another postseason failure, a $41.2 million decision looms — not a literal opt-in or opt-out, but a broader question: Can this core actually deliver? And if not, how long can the Clippers afford to keep betting on the same aging pieces?

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