Kawhi Leonard gets brutally honest about Clippers' moves at trade deadline
The NBA trade deadline is traditionally a moment for contenders to fortify their rosters for a championship push. However, for the Los Angeles Clippers, last Thursday operated as a stunning deconstruction that left franchise cornerstone Kawhi Leonard processing the sudden exodus of his primary running mates. Despite the team riding a blistering 17-4 surge that had them climbing the Western Conference standings, the front office abruptly dismantled the core, shipping James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and dealing longtime anchor Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.
On Monday, fresh off a dominant 41-point performance to carry his depleted squad past the Minnesota Timberwolves, Leonard offered a candid, brutally honest assessment of the organization's drastic pivot. The two-time Finals MVP did not hide his surprise, admitting the deadline moves were a "shock to everybody," particularly given the chemistry the group had finally forged.
"We thought we could make some noise or mess somebody's season up," Leonard said, reflecting on the team's momentum prior to the deadline. "Now, the tides changed. It’s a business, and they got to do what’s best for them."
The departure of Zubac, who had developed into a reliable force in the paint, struck a personal chord. "It's almost like losing a brother," Leonard confessed to reporters. "He was 20 or 21 when I got here... he held down the fort for us. He’s a face we’re going to miss in the locker room."
While the return package injected youthful upside via Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson, the moves signal a confusing "retooling" phase rather than an all-in commitment to Leonard's remaining prime. Sources confirmed that rival teams, sensing instability, made aggressive inquiries for Leonard in the deadline's final hours, though Los Angeles rebuffed all offers.
Now the "last man standing" from the 2019 era, Leonard is tasked with integrating a new supporting cast on the fly. While he remains professionally committed to "trying to finish the season off," his stark honesty highlights the growing disconnect between a superstar ready to win now and a franchise looking toward tomorrow.
On Monday, fresh off a dominant 41-point performance to carry his depleted squad past the Minnesota Timberwolves, Leonard offered a candid, brutally honest assessment of the organization's drastic pivot. The two-time Finals MVP did not hide his surprise, admitting the deadline moves were a "shock to everybody," particularly given the chemistry the group had finally forged.
"We thought we could make some noise or mess somebody's season up," Leonard said, reflecting on the team's momentum prior to the deadline. "Now, the tides changed. It’s a business, and they got to do what’s best for them."
The departure of Zubac, who had developed into a reliable force in the paint, struck a personal chord. "It's almost like losing a brother," Leonard confessed to reporters. "He was 20 or 21 when I got here... he held down the fort for us. He’s a face we’re going to miss in the locker room."
While the return package injected youthful upside via Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson, the moves signal a confusing "retooling" phase rather than an all-in commitment to Leonard's remaining prime. Sources confirmed that rival teams, sensing instability, made aggressive inquiries for Leonard in the deadline's final hours, though Los Angeles rebuffed all offers.
Now the "last man standing" from the 2019 era, Leonard is tasked with integrating a new supporting cast on the fly. While he remains professionally committed to "trying to finish the season off," his stark honesty highlights the growing disconnect between a superstar ready to win now and a franchise looking toward tomorrow.
