Clippers' Kawhi Leonard gets honest about extension talks

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been extension-eligible for a few months, but a new deal has yet to come together.

When Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times asked Leonard about the topic, he said he has a “good” relationship with the team’s front office and expressed confidence that an extension will eventually be reached, though it certainly doesn’t sound imminent.

“For sure,” Leonard said. “It hasn’t even been nothing that we’ve been rushing on their side, or my side. So, we’re good.”

Leonard, 32, can become a free agent next summer if he declines his $48.8M player option for 2024-25. He will earn $45.6M this season.

If Leonard signs an extension during the 2023-24 season, he would have to decline his 2024-25 player option as part of the agreement. He could make more money if he goes that route, assuming he’s offered another max deal.

A five-time All-NBA member, two-time Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Leonard has been excellent for the Clippers when healthy, averaging a combined 25.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.7 APG and 1.6 SPG on .496/.396/.881 shooting in 33.3 MPG. During the playoffs, he has been even better, averaging 29.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 5.1 APG and 2.2 SPG on .528/.375/.871 shooting in 26 games (39.3 MPG).

The problem, of course, is that Leonard has been injured for much of his tenure with Los Angeles. He has appeared in just 161 of a possible 308 regular-season games in four years with the Clippers, having missed the entire 2021-22 season with a partially torn right ACL.

Leonard suffered a torn meniscus in the same knee during last season’s playoffs, which required another surgery, but is “fully healthy” entering 2023-24.

Fellow star wing Paul George also holds a 2024-25 player option and is extension-eligible. He recently confirmed he has discussed a new deal with the Clippers but said there was work to be done to reach an agreement.