Clippers Plot Cap-Space Reset: Harden, Kawhi

The Clippers are openly weighing a dramatic reset: after moving on from Chris Paul, Los Angeles could try to shed or trade James Harden and Kawhi Leonard sooner to push cap flexibility from 2027 to 2026 and chase a richer free-agent summer. That matters because turning expensive, aging talent into cap room would be the quickest path to remaking a 6–16 club that lacks first‑round picks until 2030 and currently has no obvious way back to contention. Merlin sees the obstacles: Harden has "maybe neutral value" while Leonard is deemed "negative value" by scouts, and partners will balk at huge salaries and injury risk. As one exec said, "There are a lot of ways to use cap space" — but the Clippers must decide whether to endure short-term pain for a cleaner future or keep gambling on this core.