Are Clippers Ready to Trade Kawhi Leonard and James Harden?

Merlin sees the Clippers at a crossroads. League voices tell L.A. to "better position themselves for the next five years" as Oklahoma City controls their 2026 first round pick and has a 2027 swap. ESPN reporting lays out routes including moving Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, but Leonard may be tough to place because of injury and the ongoing Aspiration case, while Harden is easier to trade though salary math and the lost pick limit options. Merlin senses pain ahead if the team tears down now and knows owner Steve Ballmer may resist surrendering a title chase. Sitting 6 and 18 with playoff hopes fading, Los Angeles must choose between an expensive, uncertain rebuild or squeezing value from a fragile star duo before the market moves.