After another early playoff exit—their third straight without reaching the Western Conference Semifinals—the LA Clippers face serious questions about Kawhi Leonard’s leadership and long-term role with the team. Despite being one of the most elite two-way players when healthy, Leonard’s time in LA has largely been defined by inconsistency, injuries, and unmet expectations.
Kawhi Leonard, now 33, has made just one conference finals appearance with the Clippers and completed only two full postseason runs without health issues. Though he had flashes of brilliance—dropping 36 in Game 2 and 27 in Game 6 against Denver—his playoff form hasn’t quite matched the dominant version that led Toronto to a title in 2019.
With his reputation as “made of glass,” Leonard’s trade market is limited. But there may be one intriguing destination: the Houston Rockets. A move to Houston would reunite him with Fred VanVleet and potentially give the young Rockets a legitimate shot at contention.
How can the Rockets land Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers
The Rockets, stacked with promising young talent and future picks, could make a compelling offer for Leonard. His versatile scoring and elite perimeter defense would immediately raise Houston’s ceiling—particularly on a team still developing its identity.
But acquiring a superstar like Kawhi comes with a price. To make the deal happen, the Rockets would likely have to part ways with some of their top assets. A realistic package might include:
- Jalen Green
- Cam Whitmore
- Reed Sheppard
- 2027 first-round pick (Brooklyn)
- 2029 First-Round pick swap (Dallas)
That’s a steep price, but one Houston might consider if they believe Leonard can stay healthy and bring veteran leadership to their young core.
Still, it’s a gamble—one that could either fast-track a contender or saddle Houston with another injury-riddled star on a max contract.
To get more sports content, follow us at @WisconsinHeroics, @HardwoodHeroics and @GridironHeroics. You can also reach out to Yelle Baquiano-Mayo through [email protected] to know the latest sports news.
Yelle is a broadcast communications graduate from the University of Perpetual Help-Dalta and has pursued a career in television and news writing in Net 25 and Radyo Agila. Some of her works can also be seen through her previous publication in Fastbreak.com.ph.
