The Kawhi Leonard era in Los Angeles has ended following his trade to the Toronto Raptors. The seven-year tenure, which began with championship aspirations after his 2019 arrival, concluded with just one conference finals appearance and is now viewed as a cautionary tale for the franchise.
Writing for the Press-Enterprise, columnist Jim Alexander reflected on a period that promised to redefine the Clippers but ultimately became another painful chapter. The project was launched with owner Steve Ballmer’s declaration that “the only thing that matters is the Larry O’B.,” a reference to the NBA’s championship trophy. That trophy never arrived in the Clippers’ facility.
Despite pairing Leonard with Paul George, the team won only three playoff series. The era’s defining themes became Leonard’s recurring injury issues and the prevalence of load management, which prevented the star duo from building sustained momentum. Injuries repeatedly derailed their most promising postseason campaigns, leaving a significant gap between expectation and reality.
The high cost of this pursuit is now starkly clear. The aggressive trade to acquire George from Oklahoma City ultimately helped transform the Thunder into a powerhouse with the draft capital they received. In contrast, the Clippers were left with a depleted stock of assets and little to show for their all-in gamble.
With Leonard now returning to Toronto, the site of his 2019 title run, the Clippers are forced to pivot. The organization begins a new chapter focused on rebuilding its collection of draft picks, starting over in its long search to reach the NBA’s summit.
