Kawhi Leonard trade delay signals Clippers' lack of preparation

This should come as alarming news for Clippers fans, who have already been devastated by the NBA's decision to revoke five consecutive first-round draft picks starting in 2029. 

Central to the Raptors' offer for Leonard are two unprotected first-round picks, in 2031 and 2033 — perhaps the most substantial lifeline available to the organization to salvage anything for their next decade of basketball. Failing to pounce on that offer because of an unclear succession plan may suggest that the Clippers organization is far more dysfunctional than it ever seemed previously.

Bad omen for the coming season

And any hesitation now does not bode well for the how the franchise will operate throughout the coming year, either. 

Despite their punishments, the Clippers front office does still have avenues available to them to stockpile picks and construct a competitive roster. They can offer to trade for bloated or unwanted contracts from teams that are willing to attach draft picks as compensation, for instance, or set their sights on spending massively in free agency — both options that, while expensive, could be palatable given that Ballmer is still the richest owner in the NBA.

But either of these paths would require leadership that is active, prepared, and quick to move on the few opportunities that do present themselves. If the organization is still struggling to sort out who is going to run the ship even after a year to prepare as the investigation proceeded, there can't be much confidence around the basketball world that the Clippers are up to the rest of the task.

On the court, head coach Tyronn Lue has built a reputation of consistently making the most of what he is given, and there's no reason to think he won't do so again this year for the Clippers. But off it, the recipients of the most severe punishment in NBA history look shockingly unprepared to face their fate, accomplishing little in the first week of their sentence other than compounding their misery even more.