Why Clippers Can't Trade Kawhi Leonard or James Harden

Merlin sees the Clippers facing a thorny choice. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps said "there is not a trade market for Kawhi Leonard around the league, I don't think," and while Brian Windhorst thinks James Harden would draw interest, any return would likely not jumpstart a rebuild. Huge salaries, age, injury history and luxury tax limits make flipping those contracts very difficult even after a 10-21 start. Merlin senses the club can still chase the play in. Leonard and Harden are scoring near elite levels, so they help contenders but will not fetch the draft capital Los Angeles needs to rebuild. That makes patience tempting. If form holds and health returns, the Clippers may stay the course. If losses pile up, hard decisions will arrive.