Sources indicate that Garland plans to suit up Monday night when the Clippers host the Golden State Warriors at Intuit Dome. It marks a massive turning point for a franchise that has been treading water since acquiring the former Cleveland Cavaliers star in the blockbuster James Harden trade.

Garland hasn’t seen game action since Jan. 14 due to a stubborn toe injury. The layoff has been long, but the timing of his return couldn’t be better. The Clippers have spent the last month leaning heavily on their depth, and adding a dynamic playmaker of Garland’s caliber changes the ceiling of this roster entirely.

During his last healthy stretch in Cleveland, the 24-year-old was a walking bucket, averaging 20.6 points and 6.7 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. His ability to navigate the pick-and-roll and knock down shots from deep provides a much-needed secondary scoring option alongside the existing core.

The matchup against the Warriors serves as a high-stakes litmus test. While the coaching staff will likely monitor his minutes as he regains his game legs, Garland’s presence alone should loosen things up for the rest of the offense.

For a Clippers team looking to solidify its identity in a crowded Western Conference, Monday night isn’t just another regular-season game. It is the beginning of the Darius Garland era in Los Angeles. If he can recapture the All-Star form that made him one of the most coveted guards on the market, the rest of the league is officially on notice.

The post Clippers’ Darius Garland sets LA debut date after toe injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Chris Paul spent six full seasons with the LA Clippers franchise, from when he was traded to Los Angeles in 2011 all the way until he was traded to the Houston Rockets in the 2017 offseason.

Of the 249 teammates that Chris Paul shared the floor with throughout his 20-year NBA career, no one played more games alongside Paul than former Clippers All-Star center DeAndre Jordan. The duo played 406 regular season games together in addition to 53 playoff games. The duo had a .658 winning percentage, going 302-157 in those 459 games together.

Paul announcing his retirement in the middle of All-Star weekend came as somewhat of a surprise, given that the guard had been looking for a team to play for and close out his NBA career. But no team materialized, and Paul decided to call it.

DeAndre Jordan took to Instagram on Friday, a few weeks after the official retirement announcement of his former teammate to deliver a heartwarming message.

“Can’t believe I’m making a retirement post for your old ass! I still remember when we found out we were getting CP3 and the “Lob City” run was born. It still feels like yesterday. Some of the greatest years of my life.

I want to first congratulation you on an amazing basketball career! You have achieved countless accolades and have done so much for the game. However, the biggest accomplishment I’ve seen from you is your love and dedication to your family.

Thank you for ALWAYS pushing me even when I wasn’t trying to hear it. You were a teammate then and became a forever brother and I am grateful.

Enjoy this next chapter of life and the journey. Here’s to more pars and birdies! Cheers

– 6″

DeAndre Jordan was a full time starter for the Clippers when Chris Paul arrived, but under head coach Doc Rivers, became a 34 minute a night player for the Clippers starting in the 2013-14 season. From the 2023-14 season where he played alongside CP3, Jordan averaged 11.8 points, 14 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game while being named to his first NBA All-Star team in the 2016-17 season. Jordan was also a two-time rebounding champion, a three-time All-NBA selection, and a two-time All-Defensive team selection.

Chris Paul finished his NBA career playing 1,370 career games in the regular season, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. Paul finishes his illustrious, 20-year NBA career as a 12-time NBA All-Star, an 11-time All-NBA member, a nine-time All-Defensive team member, a six-time steals champion, and a five-time assists champion.

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Kawhi Leonard headlines it as he has been listed as out due to left ankle soreness, per the official report. The same is true for John Collins, who is dealing with a neck problem, and Darius Garland and Bradley Beal are also out.

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)*

Kawhi Leonard injury status vs. Timberwolves

Kawhi Leonard is out despite putting up a massive 37 points last time around against Orlando while playing through injury. However, with the Clippers sitting precariously in the 10th and final play-in spot in the West, the stakes are incredibly high. 

Edwards has been on an absolute tear since winning the All-Star Game MVP, averaging 34 points over his last three contests, including a 34-point masterclass in Tuesday’s 124-121 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Clippers desperately need their own talisman to come good.

The Timberwolves boast the NBA’s third-ranked scoring offense at 119.6 points per game, spearheaded by Edwards (29.6 PPG). On Feb. 8, a healthy Leonard systematically dismantled the Timberwolves to the tune of 41 points in a 115-96 blowout.

Regardless, Minnesota has a clean bill of health for this game, with its only absentees being due to G League assignments. Hence, much depends on Kawhi’s injury status. The Timberwolves will be looking for revenge either way, but Leonard’s presence is likely to play a major role in deciding the tie.

Clippers injury report

• Kawhi Leonard: Out (Left Ankle; Soreness)
• John Collins: Out (Head; Laceration; Neck Soreness)
• Bradley Beal: Out (Left Hip; Fracture)
• Darius Garland: Out (Left Toe; Injury Management)

Timberwolves injury report

• Jules Bernard: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Enrique Freeman: Out (G League – Two-Way)
• Rocco Zikarsky: Out (G League – Two-Way)

The post Is Kawhi Leonard playing tonight? Clippers vs. Timberwolves injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson all came over in trades at the NBA trade deadline, and the five practice days between the All-Star break and the beginning of their brutal March schedule all at home has afforded the Clippers the opportunities to build.

The Clippers practiced for the second straight day on Wednesday, one night before they take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in their final game in the month of February 2026. It was there that head coach Tyronn Lue provided positive updates on Darius Garland and John Collins, both of whom are currently dealing with injuries.

Garland participated in five-on-five scrimmages during Tuesday’s practice at Intuit Dome and came out of it feeling great. The new Clippers guard did not participate in scrimmages during Wednesday’s practice, but will participate in a team scrimmage before Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Yesterday, he looked great,” Tyronn Lue said of Darius Garland’s scrimmage takeaways. “He looked really good, moving, going both ways, had a great pace, and of course the shot-making is great. But just as far as movement, he looked really good.”

A Halo Board welcome for Darius Garland here at Intuit Dome before Clippers-Cavs pic.twitter.com/QMI59zwieu

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 5, 2026

Darius Garland has been out since January 14th, when he suffered a sprain of his right big toe. Since being traded to the LA Clippers, the team evaluated Garland and determined that he is past the right toe injury. The team, however, is currently addressing residual soreness stemming from offseason surgery on his left foot.

“I’m not sure what he’s got to do to be back,” Lue said. “He’s got to keep checking the box and keep doing the work. But like I said, he did look really good.

“You gotta ask medical. I mean, he’s on the floor, he’s playing 5-on-5, and then as far as whatever he has to do, the next steps he has to take, I’m not really sure.”

Darius Garland has officially been ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the Wolves, but is clearly nearing a return to the hardwood and his Clippers debut.

John Collins, who suffered the head laceration in the Clippers loss against the Los Angeles Lakers, is questionable to play in Thursday’s game. He missed Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic, but was a full participant in practice and greeted members of the media after practice, hinting at a return in the very near future if not on Thursday night.

The Clippers have lost two straight games and currently sit at 27-30 on the season. They’re essentially tied with the Portland Trail Blazers, who have a 28-31 record right now. LA had been one game away from reaching a .500 record after defeating the Denver Nuggets in the first game out of the All-Star break, but fell short of reaching that when they lost to the Lakers in a game Kawhi Leonard left with ankle soreness and John Collins left with the head injury.

Kawhi Leonard is also listed as questionable to play in Thursday night’s game with left ankle soreness, but is expected to warm up and give it a go, especially given the team just had three days off and will have two more days off after the game.

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Wendell Carter Jr., who recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes — including the game-winning putback — praised Banchero’s defensive focus and competitiveness.

“Man, when P is locked in defensively he’s one of the best in this league. He has the potential one of the best two way players to ever play this game in my opinion. He had two big challenges with Kawhi the other night and then Luka tonight. He took that challenge head on. When he’s in that mode, when he’s locked in, man, it unlocks his team and takes us to whole another level.”

On Sunday, Leonard scored 37 points against Orlando, adding eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks while shooting 14-for-25 from the field. Two nights later, Doncic faced a more disruptive defensive presence from the Magic. The Lakers star finished with 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds but shot 8-for-24 from the field and 2-for-10 from 3-point range while committing two turnovers.

Wendell Carter Jr. on Paolo Banchero’s defense this season:

“When P is locked in defensively, he’s one of the best in this league. He has the potential to be one of the best two-way players ever… When he’s in that mode, it takes us to another level.” pic.twitter.com/qHDu8BIgJ6

— Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) February 25, 2026

Paolo Banchero accepts challenge of guarding elite scorers

Banchero addressed the defensive responsibility of guarding premier scorers across the league.

“Yeah, I think it’s just me, you know, accepting the challenge. You know, I think a lot of times, you know, coaches want, you know, some of the better players to guard a guy. They don’t have to expend as much energy. But, you know, having Jalen out, having Franz out, Those are two of our best perimeter defenders. And so I know that I got to step up on that side of the ball. And I’m a big guy, I can move. I feel like I’m a good defender, especially one on one, guarding bigger guys, bigger guards.”

He acknowledged the difficulty of containing stars but emphasized effort and physicality.

Paolo on defending Kawhi Leonard, Luka Dončić the last two games:

“With Jalen and Franz out, I know I’ve got to step up on that side. I’m a big guy, I can move. You’re not going to stop guys like that, but you can make it hard on them — make them miss a couple, make them work.” pic.twitter.com/HMurC2OMrI

— Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) February 25, 2026

“And so guarding guys like that, you’re not going to stop them from scoring, but you can make your heart on them, make them miss a couple shots, just make them expend a lot of energy. So that’s just what I’ve been trying to do. Kawhi obviously had a big night, but getting a couple of stops and just making it difficult and you know, look at him being a hell of a player and just a creator with the ball in his hands, you know, trying to just show my body and you know, be there when he’s trying to get looks, make plays.”

Banchero’s offensive output remained steady. Against the Lakers, he added 10 rebounds and six assists while shooting 12-for-22 from the field and 10-for-11 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes.

Magic contain Luka Doncic as Banchero delivers late vs. Lakers

Head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the collective challenge of defending Doncic while highlighting Banchero’s timely shot-making.

“Listen, sometimes when he shoots, you just gotta hope it doesn’t go in. Because he’s that good and when the game was on the line, he took the big three that put them up three. And Paolo comes back and hit one. As soon as that one went up in the corner, you know it’s good because that’s what he’s done. I’ve seen him do it. He did it when we played Portland when we were in Dallas. I’ve seen that same exact shot. So you’ve just got to keep mixing the coverages up against him, make it difficult, do your best to do it without fouling, and just continue to make it tough on him.”

Orlando held Doncic below his season average of 32.5 points while limiting his efficiency. With the win, the Magic improved to 31-26 and secured road victories over both Los Angeles teams in the same season for the first time since 2012-13.

The Magic return home Thursday to begin a four-game homestand against the Houston Rockets (35-21). As Orlando continues its push in the Eastern Conference standings, Banchero’s willingness to defend elite scorers while carrying the offensive load underscores the franchise cornerstone’s growing two-way ceiling.

The post How Magic’s Paolo Banchero showed all-time 2-way potential in Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic showdowns appeared first on ClutchPoints.

And as things stand, NBA insider Jovan Buha has claimed there is no team with more cap space to take on a player of Kawhi’s stature than their closest rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Either scenario of Kawhi is forced to be traded or his contract is voided and he is a free agent, no one has more cap space this summer than the Lakers. So the Lakers are in a prime position. Living in LA for the past six years, I don’t know if he would want to relocate..That could put the Lakers in a position to acquire him or sign him,” he said per HoopsHype, before claiming that he wanted to tread lightly on this thread.

“Now, the Lakers can bid high. They have three picks, and they have the cap space. So maybe that’s enough to entice the Clippers, depending on what that potential trade package looks like. But for now, I think it’s just noise, and until we have clarity on what the potential punishment is going to be, I think it’s nothing more than that,” he said.

However, Buha still claimed that the Clippers may be unwilling to trade him to their rivals, and the situation may eventually result in a bidding war.

“I don’t think the Clippers would love trading Kawhi to the Lakers. And at that point, if you’re forced to trade him, I think the league’s not gonna be like, ‘You have to trade him to the Lakers, you have to trade him to team X.’ It’s gonna be, ‘Alright, let’s get into a bidding war here,’ he said.

There is undeniable bad blood between the ownership groups, highlighted by Lakers owner Jeanie Buss nicknaming Clippers owner Steve Ballmer “Ballz,” alongside the Lakers’ lingering institutional embarrassment over the lopsided Ivica Zubac trade. Hence, while there may be a ‘geographical convenience’ for a Kawhi-Lakers trade, it currently seems to be a mere figment of imagination, rather than anything real.

The post NBA rumors: Lakers insider tip-toes around Kawhi Leonard possibility amid Clippers uncertainty appeared first on ClutchPoints.

A two-time Clippers player who began his professional career with the team in 2003 after a college career at UCLA, Barnes was a fixture of the Lob City era from 2012-15, where he played alongside Blake Griffin and Chris Paul as they revitalized LA’s interest in their other basketball team.

While Barnes is unquestionably proud of his time in LA, he isn’t too happy with how the organization has treated stars like Blake Griffin and Chris Paul under Steve Ballmer, as he broke down on All The Smoke.

“It really bothered me. To be honest with you, I think I’ve only worked one game since then. I had to cancel the game, and I don’t think I’ll be going back, to be honest with you, because I just think that s**t is f**ked up, to be honest with you. I mean, you’re playing with somebody’s legacy. You’re playing with someone last run. They did super dirty when they signed Blake to a big a** contract, and then they traded him to Detroit,” Barnes said.

” I mean, you do your franchise, you know, possibly two of the greatest players that your organization’s ever had. You do them dirty. It’s just that s–t rubs people the wrong way.”

While Griffin and CP3 came to LA in very different ways, they turned the Clippers into must-see television in a town that has historically been all about the Lakers. Even if the decisions to trade the duo came for very different reasons, the fact of the matter remains: Los Angeles had a chance to do both players right and opted against it, which, when coupled with their current prospects, isn’t ideal to say the least.

The post Matt Barnes distancing himself from Clippers over Chris Paul disrespect appeared first on ClutchPoints.

After the game, Kawhi Leonard, who kicked the pass out to Mathurin for the open look, had a supportive message for the Clippers’ recent trade acquisition from the Indiana Pacers.

“Ben wide open. Laced ’em up. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it. But it’s basketball. Things happen. We got a good look and he’ll be ready next time,” said Leonard, per Joey Linn of Sports Illustrated on X, formerly Twitter.

Mathurin also got 100% real on the missed shot, as well as what it means to have someone like Leonard in his corner.

“It was great to have that experience. Obviously I wish I would’ve made that shot, but there’s nothing I can do other than work on it more… It means a lot. In my opinion, [Kawhi] is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. So to have him come show love and show support that there’s many more ahead of me — for a guy who’s made a lot of those shots, it was great to see,” he said.

The Clippers have now lost two straight games after their recent win over the Denver Nuggets, but still are comfortably in postseason position in the Western Conference, sitting five games above the Memphis Grizzlies for the final play-in spot.

Mathurin was acquired from the Pacers in exchange for big man Ivica Zubac as part of the Clippers’ trade deadline fire sale, which also saw them send James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland.

The Clippers will next take the floor on Thursday vs the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The post Kawhi Leonard’s ‘love’ for Benedict Mathurin embraced after Clippers’ tough Magic loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Leonard delivered a dominant performance, finishing with a game-high 37 points to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in 33 minutes. He shot 14-for-25 from the field, 2-for-7 from 3-point range and 7-for-9 from the free-throw line.

After the game, Carter reflected on the challenge of defending Leonard.

“Kawhi, especially as of late, is probably the best player in this league. Again, he gets his spots whenever he wants to. Very calm, very collective. He never feels like he’s rushed or sped up at all. Very solid defensively, guard, most guys on the court. So he’s one of those guys you try to just contain throughout the game, make it tough, make everyone look for them tough and then late game like we did, try to get the ball out of his hand, make someone else beat us. So I think we did a really good job of that late down the stretch. And it was definitely something we could learn from going forward.”

Wendell Carter Jr. calls Kawhi Leonard the “best player in the league”

“Kawhi, especially as of late, is probably the best player in this league. He gets his spots whenever he wants… He never feels rushed or sped up at all.” pic.twitter.com/cpxRg2ggPM

— Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) February 23, 2026

Leonard consistently controlled the tempo, scoring from his preferred midrange spots and attacking mismatches without appearing hurried. Despite Orlando’s late-game adjustments, the two-time Finals MVP repeatedly created separation and forced defensive rotations.

Clippers fall short despite Kawhi Leonard’s 37-point performance vs. Magic

As Carter noted, the Magic shifted their strategy in the closing moments, attempting to get the ball out of Leonard’s hands. On the Clippers’ final possession, Leonard passed to Bennedict Mathurin for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. The shot hit the rim and fell away, sealing Los Angeles’ second consecutive loss and dropping the Clippers to 27-30.

Mathurin contributed 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench. He shot 7-for-16 from the field, 1-for-5 from beyond the arc and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line in 30 minutes.

For Leonard, the performance continued what has been one of the most productive scoring seasons of his career. In his sixth season with the Los Angeles Clippers, the 34-year-old is averaging 28 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and two steals per game across 44 appearances. He is shooting 49.4% from the field, 38.1% from 3-point range and a career-high 90.5% from the free-throw line while logging 32.8 minutes per contest.

Orlando improved to 30-26 with the narrow victory, concluding the second night of a back-to-back on a four-game Western Conference road trip. Carter finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes, helping anchor the interior while the Magic weathered Leonard’s scoring bursts.

The Clippers will look to bounce back Thursday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves (35-25) at 7:00 p.m. PT on Prime Video as part of a three-game homestand.

The Orlando Magic continue their road trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers (34-22) at 7:30 p.m. PT, carrying momentum after withstanding Leonard’s 37-point outing.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard earns ‘best player in league’ tag from Magic player who just saw dominance up close appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, as it appears, Leonard has not exactly recovered from the ankle issue and recently revealed that it was a “lingering injury,” per a post on X by Sports Illustrated’s Farbod Esnaashari.

Kawhi Leonard says his ankle soreness has been a lingering injury. The medical team asked him against the Lakers to see if it was loosening up, and he went to the back but it wasn't loosening up.

Kawhi added that he didn't want to potentially mess up his availability against the… pic.twitter.com/gwOaImqClr

— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) February 23, 2026

“Kawhi added that he didn’t want to potentially mess up his availability against the Magic by forcing playing through it against the Lakers,” the journalist revealed.

Leonard remains extremely crucial as far as the Clippers’ ceiling is concerned. Through 43 games, the All-Star forward is averaging 28 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting about 49% from the field and 38% from three.

Of course, Leonard also remains one of the best, if not the best two-way stars in the league, and his importance has only increased after James Harden’s exit. The Clippers are some way away from playoff relevance and are currently sitting below the .500 mark despite the uptick in form.

They are currently placed 10th in the West with a 27-30 record and are largely dependent on Kawhi’s health if they are to have a postseason. Regardless, fans will be delighted to see how he has continued to operate at a high level despite the ankle problem.

Leonard was instrumental against the Lakers and kept his team in the game right till the very end. The Clippers could easily have won the game had he not been forced out, and his 37-point display against the Magic coming despite the injury further shows exactly what he brings to the table.

For now, fans will simply hope that he can quickly recover.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard makes ‘lingering’ confession about ankle injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

During halftime, he participated in a promotional half‑court shot challenge. He confidently stepped onto the court and, to the amazement of everyone watching, drained the long heave, earning a $10,000 cash prize.

He was as pumped up as a teenage girl at a Taylor Swift concert, jumping up and down the court to celebrate his impressive shot.

This Clippers fan nailed the half-court shot for $10,000

(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/akcfX63n3m

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026

Was that the game’s best highlight or what?

Imagine just cheering for the Clippers and then going home with a cool $10,000.

People on X were thrilled for the fan.

“HALF COURT. $10K. ICE IN HIS VEINS. What a moment!” said @ishnhere.

“My palms would be sweating just holding the ticket. That fan’s got ice in their veins,” echoed @farrynft.

“Clutch doesn’t just belong to the players. Shoutout to that Los Angeles Clippers fan for cashing out in style!” added @Anikaflicks.

“Dang, all the fans hitting tonight,” posted @JB233_.

“Arena was louder for that than for any of the dunks last Saturday, LMAO,” joked @notdomsanch.

“What a $hot,” wrote @yaboiandro.

Perhaps the Clippers should offer the fan a 10-day contract.

The half-court shooting contest is a fun staple of halftime entertainment in the NBA, giving spectators a chance to participate and have a memorable experience at the venue.

The Clippers have now suffered back-to-back losses after also falling short against the Los Angeles Lakers, 125-122, on Saturday.

They will return to action on Thursday versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The post Watch Clippers fan win $10,000 after making half-court shot appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It is not a coincidence that the Clippers have played well in recent weeks, even with the departure of James Harden at the trade deadline. Jones has been a big part of their surge, providing two-way activity.

Early on against the Orlando Magic on Sunday at Intuit Dome, Jones showed anew why he is an indispensable part of the roster. Paolo Banchero briefly escaped Jones after getting a screen from Wendell Carter Jr. Jones, however, swiftly recovered to block Banchero’s jumpshot.

The Clippers recovered the ball, leading to a breakaway dunk for Kobe Sanders.

Derrick Jones Jr. with the BLOCK on Paolo Banchero, leading to the slam by Kobe Sanders pic.twitter.com/nlvA9nHX8t

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026

In one play, Jones displayed his dexterity, leaping ability, and high IQ. Many would have simply given up after getting lost on a pick, but the high-flying forward refused to do so.

It is that kind of effort that has kept the 29-year-old Jones in the NBA. In his first seasons, he was known only as a dunker. He barely had playing time. Still, he worked on his game, developing an outside shot to become a serviceable 3-and-D guy.

Over the years, he has seen his role increase, becoming a key piece for the Dallas Mavericks during their run to the 2024 NBA Finals.

He has been a perfect complement to Kawhi Leonard, as he does not need to have the ball to make an impact.

In their two games since the All-Star break, excluding their meeting versus the Magic, Jones has averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks.

The post Clippers’ Derrick Jones Jr. denies Paolo Banchero’s midrange jumper in clash vs. Magic appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Kawhi Leonard left Friday night’s game with 5:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. He went back to the Clippers locker room and the team quickly ruled him out for the remainder of the game.

He was labeled as “Questionable” for Sunday night’s game against the Orlando Magic due to left ankle soreness.

John Collins went up for an alley-oop attempt late in the first half, but was unintentionally undercut by Jaxson Hayes and suffered a head injury with 18.6 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

He was ruled “Out” for Sunday’s game due to a neck soreness and a head laceration.

On Sunday, Kawhi Leonard went through his regular warm-up routine and was upgraded to “Available” against the Magic. Additionally, head coach Tyronn Lue said that forward John Collins was not diagnosed with a concussion, but is dealing with the affects of the laceration that required stitches above his eye.

Kawhi Leonard WILL play tonight vs. the Magic.

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 23, 2026

Kobe Sanders will be starting in place of Collins, and it is assumed that Leonard will be on some form of minutes restriction coming off of the back-to-back set and the ankle injury.

In 43 games this season, Kawhi Leonard has put up 27.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game for the Clippers, who have a 23-20 record with Leonard in the lineup and 2-9 record when he doesn’t play.

John Collins has played 53 games this season for the Clippers, averaging 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist for the Clippers while shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from three.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, John Collins get injury updates vs. Magic appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In just his fourth game with the team, Bennedict Mathurin scored 26 points off the bench to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. He continued a hot-scoring start to his stint with the franchise he was traded to at the NBA trade deadline. He also fouled out of the game late in the fourth quarter and picked up a costly technical foul.

With 7:35 remaining in the second quarter and the Lakers leading 54-42, Bennedict Mathurin was fouled by Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt. Mathurin appeared to push him off, and the game officials responded by issuing a technical foul to the Clippers guard.

Jarred Vanderbilt should be fined for flopping https://t.co/nIEgX7sKvh pic.twitter.com/lg0ftTwDim

— BGB♛ (@BonesGotBizzy) February 21, 2026

Mathurin was puzzled with the technical foul, but continued to play through the call. Austin Reaves went on to make the free throw.

The Clippers went on to lose Friday night’s game against the Lakers, 125-122.

On Saturday morning, the NBA announced that they would be rescinding the technical foul issued to Bennedict Mathurin. It would reduce his technical foul count for the season and also prevent him from paying a fine, but the free throw made by Reaves ended up playing a crucial part in the end of the game, as the Clippers would not have needed to take a three-pointer on their final shot for the tie.

Luka Doncic paced the Lakers with 38 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, and three steals while Austin Reaves scored 29 points with six rebounds and two assists for the Lakers.

Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers in scoring with 31 points, four rebounds, and five assists while shooting 11-of-19 from the field and 4-of-6 from three. Bennedict Mathurin recorded his 26 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and 11-of-14 shooting from the free throw line.

The Clippers will move on to face the Orlando Magic on Sunday night, but a lot of questions remain. Will Kawhi Leonard play after leaving the game due to ankle soreness with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter? Will John Collins avoid being placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol after taking a nasty spill on a lob attempt late in the first half of Friday’s game?

The post NBA takes action after Bennedict Mathurin’s technical foul in loss to Lakers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

James finished the night with 13 points, three rebounds, and 11 assists on 5-of-13 shooting for the Lakers, who defeated the Clippers 125-122. Kawhi Leonard poured in 31 points, four rebounds, and five assists on 11-of-19 shooting in 31 minutes of play before departing with 5:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.

After the game, LeBron James was asked about Kawhi Leonard and his resilience to keep coming back from injury and perform at an All-Star level.

“Kawhi is awesome, man,” James said. “He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. And I couldn’t care less about the injuries. Those things, you can’t control. You only can control the control-ables, and the things that he’s been controlling is how he comes back and how much perseverance he has every single time.”

In 42 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three, and 90.7 percent from free throw line.

His strong play throughout the season, but especially since the middle of December has been a big reason the Clippers have been able to get out of the 6-21 hole they started the season with.

“He’s a— That guy is awesome,” LeBron James continued. “I swear. I have nothing but great things to say about Kawhi and the type of basketball that he’s been playing over the last couple months. I mean he is who is he for a season. I’m not surprised by it. On another note, I was like disappointed on the 2024 Olympic Team when he wasn’t able to go with us.I was looking forward to teaming up with ‘Whi too as well. I was a little disappointed about that when he had to deal with another injury. I was looking forward to spending some time with him, but listen, he’s great. He had 31 points in 12 minutes the other night. That was— He’s awesome. I could speak about him all night, obviously.”

LeBron James was incredibly complimentary of Kawhi Leonard when I asked him about the resilience he’s seen from him:

“Kawhi is awesome, man. He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. I couldn’t care less about the injuries… That guy is awesome. I swear I have nothing… pic.twitter.com/GipDxoJRfX

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 21, 2026

Kawhi Leonard has dealt with a slew of injuries over his career, from a torn ACL to a torn meniscus in recent years, not to mention the quad and knee swelling difficulties he’s dealt with as well.

LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard have not played 40 matchups against one another — 28 in the regular season and 12 in the playoffs. Leonard has won 15 of those 28 regular season games and seven of those 12 playoff games.

James and his Miami heat won the 2013 NBA Championship against Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard and his Spurs then defeated James and his Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals.

The post LeBron James praises Kawhi Leonard after win vs. Clippers – “He’s the best” appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Lue accused their opponents of the night of foul-baiting the entire game, claiming that it was something his team went through every game.

“Foul-baiting the whole game. We run into it every night. It’s tough. Like, you guys are already great players. So, you know, it’s tough to stop them at that point, but we did everything we could,” he said per a post on X by The Associated Press’ Greg Beacham.

Of course, the turning point of the game proved to be Leonard’s exit due to an ankle injury, which came with around five minutes left on the clock. The Clippers stayed in the game despite the Lakers getting an explosive start to the game.

While Luka Doncic led from the front with 38 points and 11 assists, Austin Reaves delivered 29 points on 9-15 shooting, with LeBron James also coming up with a double-double, with 13 points and 11 assists.

This was only the 11th time in 55 games that all three of the Lakers’ superstars played together, something fans will hope becomes the norm henceforth. The Clippers’ response was driven primarily by Kawhi Leonard’s 31-point performance.

He seemed to inspire a response from his team each time the Lakers threatened to take over the game. Bennedict Mathurin produced 26 points on the night off the bench while Brook Lopez returned with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.

The Clippers even returned from a 15-point deficit at one point in the third quarter and may even have turned things around had Leonard been able to log minutes till the end.

The post Clippers’ Ty Lue sounds off on ‘foul baiting’ Lakers after tough loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Post-game, the Clippers’ head coach Tyronn Lue praised his team, claiming that they fought till the end despite considerable adversity.

Tyronn Lue postgame

"Doesn't look like a fuckin' team that's trying to lose to me." pic.twitter.com/0Pdv8KLZiU

— Law Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) February 21, 2026

“You saw it, that’s who we are. This group, we gonna compete, we gonna fight every night. Doesn’t look like a fuckin’ team that’s trying to lose to me. We gonna scrap every night. We are gonna fight every night. That’s who we are. The teams that gonna play against us, they know we gonna fight every night,” he said per a post on X by The Athletic’s Law Murray.

The Lakers began with an early offensive explosion which was spearheaded by a 17-point quarter from Doncic, as the Clippers returned with a 12-point deficit from the first quarter. The response however, was just as dramatic.

Leonard shot clinically throughout, finishing 11-of-19 on shooting which included a dominant 19-point second quarter that prevented the game from slipping away. The Clippers’ physicality and rebounding provided another encouraging sign.

They generated a significant early advantage in second-chance production, outscoring the Lakers 14-2 on offensive rebounds in the first half. That helped them flip the script as they overturned a 15-point deficit, led by a 17-0 stretch.

However, the turning point proved to be Leonard’s exit with just over five minutes remaining. The Clippers struggled to remain in the game, despite bringing the score to 123-120 with just 46 seconds remaining, eventually losing out.

However, just as he pointed out, Tyronn Lue’s team fought till the end, and will have plenty of positives to take from the loss.

The post Clippers’ Ty Lue praises LA’s effort in crushing loss to Lakers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Making matters worse, the Clippers will now be without Kawhi Leonard for the final few minutes of a close game against the Purple and Gold, as per Tomer Azarly, Clippers beat reporter for ClutchPoints.

Leonard was experiencing soreness in his left ankle, and it looked like he tweaked it on a play earlier in the fourth when he attempted to post up and had the ball poked away from his grasp. The Clippers star was walking rather gingerly, and now, the team is opting to play it safe, refusing to risk further harm for their best player.

Before being forced to exit the game due to an ankle injury, Leonard scored 31 points on 11-19 shooting from the field to go along with four rebounds and five assists.

Things go from bad to worse for plucky Clippers

To say that this season hasn’t gone according to plan whatsoever for the Clippers would be a major understatement. Leonard’s alleged involvement in cap circumvention business involving a bankrupt company called Aspiration got things started off the wrong foot for the Clippers this season, and now, LA is about to be without two key players at such a crucial point in the season.

The Clippers were one win away from being at the .500 mark, which is a borderline miracle considering their 6-21 start to the season, but their loss to the Lakers delays their monumental climb for now. The onus will be on Bennedict Mathurin to lead the team in scoring if Leonard, Collins, and Garland would miss even more time.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard ruled out of Lakers clash with ankle injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In their first game out of the All-Star break, the Lakers got out to a 14-point lead late in the 1st quarter, 41-27, thanks to a hot shooting start by Luka Doncic. In 12 first quarter minutes of play, Doncic recorded 17 points, two rebounds, and four assists while shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 4-of-5 from three.

Doncic’s four assists led to a pair of three-pointers and a pair of two-pointers, meaning he was responsible for 27 of the Lakers 41 points in the opening period.

Doncic’s 17-point first quarter marked the 30th time that the guard has recorded at least 10 points in a quarter against the Clippers. It’s also the 60th time that Doncic has recorded 10 or more points against the Clippers in a single quarter, regular season and postseason included.

Tonight's 1st quarter was the 60th time in Luka Doncic's career he's recorded 10+ points in a quarter against the LA Clippers.

It was his 30th in the regular season.

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 21, 2026

The only other players to have more quarters of 10 or more points against the Clippers are Kevin Durant, with 79. Doncic entered a tie with Stephen Curry’s 60 quarters of 10 or more points against the Clippers.

The stark difference between the three? Durant is currently in his 18th season in the NBA, Stephen Curry is in his 17th season, and Doncic is only in his eighth season. By the time it’s all said and done, who knows how far ahead Luka Doncic is on that list.

Additionally, Luka Doncic has the second highest points per game average against the Clippers of any player versus a franchise.

Doncic’s 32.1 points per game average trails only Michael Jordan’s 32.3 points per game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The next three highest points per game averages against a single franchise are also owned by Michael Jordan (32.0 verys the Cavs, 32.0 versus the Knicks, and 31.9 versus the Knicks).

Luka Doncic averages 32.1 points per game against the LA Clippers.

It's the 2nd highest career points per game average of any player vs. one franchise (regular season and postseason). pic.twitter.com/Bw2fVALr7w

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 21, 2026

Entering Friday’s game, Luka Doncic had played 42 games against the LA Clippers, counting both the regular season and postseason. He has a record of 23-19 in those games.

The post The Luka Doncic stats that prove he loves playing against Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

This wasn’t an intentional play by Hayes by any means, but it was still an unfortunate sequence that has now forced Collins to the locker room prematurely. Hayes was simply trying to deflect the lob pass, but his momentum was carrying him backwards and straight onto the Clippers highflyer’s path. Collins then took a hard spill on the hardwood which then caused a sudden bump to his head, causing him to bleed.

As per ClutchPoints Clippers beat reporter Tomer Azarly, Collins is now being evaluated for a head injury, which means that he can’t return to action on the night until he clears certain tests. In theory, Collins could return to action against the Lakers if he does clear all protocols, which is a unique situation considering that players typically have to take their free throws before leaving so that they could be eligible to return.

Before being forced to exit, Collins had 12 points, one rebound, and one steal in 16 minutes of play.

Clippers look to finish comeback attempt vs. Lakers sans John Collins

Without Collins, the Clippers will either have to play small and rely on Kawhi Leonard to play at the four, or they could bring Nicolas Batum and Derrick Jones Jr. out and have them play on the wing.

The Clippers have mounted an admirable comeback from double digits down against the Lakers, and with ESPN’s Jorge Sedano confirming on the broadcast that Collins won’t be returning to play, they will have to beat LA at their own game instead of pummeling them with size the way having Collins allows them to.

The post Clippers’ John Collins exits Lakers game with head injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The fourth year guard was traded to the Clippers on NBA trade deadline day in a package that also brought Isaiah Jackson and a couple of draft picks to Los Angeles in exchange for All-Defensive center Ivica Zubac.

In just his third game with the team since being acquired — and his first game inside Intuit Dome as a Clipper — Mathurin came up huge in the Clippers’ comeback victory.

Bennedict Mathurin scored 38 points in his first game at home, leading the Clippers to a 115-114 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The guard shot 12-of-22 from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line in the victory, scoring 11 points off the bench in the first quarter and pouring in 16 fourth quarter points to close out the win.

“He’s been doing it,” Kawhi Leonard said of his new teammate. “It’s great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, watched him in the NBA Finals [against the Oklahoma City Thunder]. He was doing it in the Finals last year, all year last year with the Pacers, so it’s great to have him.”

Kawhi Leonard on Bennedict Mathurin's 38-point night vs. Nuggets:

“He's been doing it. It's great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, watched him in the Finals. He was doing it in the Finals last year, all year last year with the Pacers, so it's great to have him.” pic.twitter.com/rDreMcknPn

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 20, 2026

Mathurin had a couple of big performances for the Indiana Pacers last postseason, including a 27-point performance in Game 3 to help his team take a 2-1 series lead and a 24-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 7 after Tyrese Haliburton suffered the torn Achilles tendon.

“He’s been aggressive since he’s been playing with us, but it was great,” Leonard added. “Like you said, he scored 11 in the first, and he kept it going from there. He got out in transition, made some layups, hit some big three-point shots. Guarded pretty well as well, so it’s been a great pickup.”

Bennedict Mathurin has increased his scoring, rebounding, and assisting in three consecutive seasons, but now has a chance to develop a consistency that was not as available to him in Indiana under head coach Rick Carlisle.

“It’s going to be awesome [playing under head coach Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after last night’s victory. “He might end up being my best friend. He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me to be myself, and I feel like he really knows my game. He really knows what I can do. So, I’m glad to have him as a coach and I think that bringing everybody along, we can do a lot of great things.”

Thursday night was also the second consecutive game that Mathurin has reached double-digit free throw attempts, displaying an ability to not only score at a high level, but put pressure on the defense and get to the free throw line, where he’s shot 83.6 percent in his career.

The post Kawhi Leonard calls Bennedict Mathurin “great pickup” after 38 point game vs. Nuggets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Down three points, the Nuggets first-time NBA All-Star guard was fouled on a three-point shot attempt with 0.9 remaining on the game clock and no timeouts remaining for either team. Murray, a historically clutch free throw shooter, stepped up to the free throw line facing the Clippers Wall with a chance to tie the game and all but likely send it to overtime.

Jamal Murray swished the first free throw, hit the back of the rim on the second made free throw, and then had to pause for roughly 30 seconds due to substitutions before taking his third and final free throw for the tie. That shot swung towards the right side of the rim and rolled right out to the left, effectively giving the Clippers the win.

Jamal Murray vs. the Wall… misses the last of 3 free throws for the tie and the Clippers hold on to win. pic.twitter.com/nFuWFgi1Gx

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 20, 2026

“What was going through my head?” Kawhi Leonard reiterated when he was asked that question after the gam. “Uh, I was just hoping he was gonna miss one, really, sh-t” Kawhi Leonard said. “I mean, we were up three, he knocked down the first two, so really just hoping he would miss.”

Kawhi Leonard on what was going through his head during Jamal Murray’s game-tying free throws:

“I was just hoping he was gonna miss one, really, shit. I mean, we were up three, he knocked down the first two, so really just hoping he would miss.” https://t.co/BYVzOwVuLO pic.twitter.com/0oG8ybH6oS

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 20, 2026

An 88.7 percent shooter on the season, Jamal Murray has missed 11 free throws in clutch situations this season (defined as a five-point game in the final five minutes). Murray is also just 11-of-18 from the free throw line in the final minute of a game separated by three points or less this season.

Kawhi Leonard finished Thursday night’s game with 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting to go along with four rebounds and three assists. The Clippers forward was clearly dealing with some kind of cold or illness after the game, which is why Bennedict Mathurin’s big performance was much-needed.

In just his third game with the LA Clippers, Mathurin scored 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line. The 38-point performance is the most scored by a Clippers in their home debut and also tied a personal career-high for the fourth year guard out of Arizona.

The post Kawhi Leonard’s hilarious response to Jamal Murray’s missed clutch free throw appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Clippers currently have a record of 27-28, winning 21 of their last 28 games after starting the season with a measly 6-21 record. The bounce back in the standings and into playoff contention has been led by star Kawhi Leonard. Given his injury history and the upcoming back-to-back set, everyone wants to know if Leonard will be playing against the Lakers.

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)*

Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Lakers

Kawhi Leonard has played in 42 of the Clippers 55 games so far this season. He missed 10 games in November 2025 due to a sprained ankle suffered against the Miami Heat and another three games in January 2026 due to swelling in his knee from a hard bump he took against the Detroit Pistons a week prior.

He did play in the Clippers first game out of the 2026 NBA All-Star break against the Nuggets, but was dealing with an illness as he scored 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field. He received a huge boost from new teammate Bennedict Mathurin, who scored a career-high tying 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting in the win.

Entering Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kawhi Leonard is not listed on the Clippers injury report and is expected to play. It is worth noting, however, that head coach Tyronn Lue hinted at Leonard being on a minutes restriction and that the team will likely be limiting his minutes as the season progresses.

“He’s on his minutes [restriction],” head coach Tyronn Lue admitted after Wednesday’s practice inside Intuit Dome. “He’s on his minutes so we just can’t overdo it. Like I’ve said, we’re smart about it. We know we can’t just run him into the ground. As much as he wants to play more and do more, we just know that with that load, we just can’t continue to do it night in and night out. So it’ll be some nights where it’s a little more than others, but for the most part we want to make sure we’re safe with him.”

Kawhi Leonard has played in 41 games this season for the Clippers, averaging 27.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 49 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three, and 90.7 percent from three throw line. His 27.8 points a night are a personal career-high for the Clippers star, who has been tasked with carrying the scoring burden throughout the trades and injuries they’ve had to deal with.

The fourth and final showdown between the LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers is set to tip off at 7:00PM PST on ESPN.

The post Is Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard playing against Luka Doncic, Lakers? appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Garland’s name had been in a bevy of rumors leading up to the Cavaliers’ trade at the deadline, with Los Angeles being the winner of the sweepstakes. Speaking with Andscape, Garland would speak on how a trade away from Cleveland was inevitable and how the current toe injury “had a factor in it.”

“It was going to happen regardless, either at the [trade] deadline or this summer. [My agent] Rich [Paul] had that conversation with me last summer,” Garland said. “They didn’t know if I was going to be healthy for this season, which I will be. But they thought that James had something that I didn’t, I believe. He has experience in playoffs and All-Star numbers still to this day, even though he wasn’t an All-Star this year. But yeah, they want to win right now. They have a group, too. And I guess I really wasn’t part of the plan.”

Darius Garland calls the Clippers a “really good situation”

With the hopes of Garland making the Clippers compete better this season and beyond, there’s no denying his talent as a star point guard in the NBA. Garland hasn’t played in a game since Jan. 14 with the Cavaliers, as he speaks about how excited he is to be with Los Angeles, calling it a “really good situation.”

“But now, I’m over here in a really good situation. I have the ball in my hand a lot more, where I could do me a little bit more. I have another superstar [Leonard] next to me. I can go get it as well,” Garland said.

Garland is looking to return soon and help the Clippers improve as the team has a 27-28 record, ninth in the West.

The post Darius Garland confirms Cavs’ skepticism of injury history, health amid Clippers trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Denver took a 13-4 lead over the Clippers quickly into Thursday night’s contest, trapping Kawhi Leonard 30 feet from the basket and forcing him to make other players create. Bennedict Mathurin checked in midway through the third quarter, and immediately contributed 11 points off the bench in six first quarter minutes.

It was a far cry from the Mathurin everyone saw debut for the Clippers a week ago against the Houston Rockets, and was the one the Clippers needed against the Nuggets.

“The conversation we had was in the first game in Houston,” head coach Tyronn Lue said of Bennedict Mathurin. “I thought he came out really passive, turned down some shots, wasn’t aggressive. I pulled him to the side during a timeout and told him, ‘you’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be who you are, and we’ll figure out the rest.’ We needed it every bit of it tonight. Him being aggressive, getting to the basket, getting to the free throw line, and making some big shots for us.”

Mathurin not only jump-started the Clippers offense and didn’t let up all night. In just his third game since the trade deadline deal that brought him over from the Indiana Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin recorded a Clippers franchise record for points in a home debut. The Clippers guard led the way with 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line.

“Man, it’s going to be awesome [playing for Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after the win. He might end up being my best friend. He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me to be myself, and I feel like he really knows my game. He really knows what I can do. So glad to have him as a coach. And I think that bringing everybody along, we can do a lot of great things.”

Kawhi Leonard, who was dealing with an illness, recorded 23 points, four rebounds, and three assists, but saw double-teams and traps all night by the Nuggets defense that made it difficult for him to find a rhythm. He did, however, have a 10 point third quarter that helped the Clippers win the minutes that Bennedict Mathurin was off the floor.

“The trade happened so fast, man,” Mathurin added. “I got time to speak with [Kawhi] a little bit, just to catch up with him after All-Star. Great guy! So pretty much trying to build that connection as quick as we can so we can make a deep run in the playoffs.

Mathurin started the game with 11 points in the opening period and closed it out with 16 points in the final frame to cap off his 38-point performance.

“It’s fun to see how my teammates were happy for me,” Mathurin said after the win. “Just winning, actually winning my second game with the team. So far, so good.”

Mathurin recorded his second straight game with double-digit free throw attempts, repeatedly displaying an ability to take contact, finish through contact, and get to the free throw line.

“I think that I’ve always been just being aggressive, just going to the rim.,” Mathurin added after the win. “It’s one of my biggest strengths. So I think that, you know, just knowing when to take a shot or be aggressive, kind of the difference between that.”

In three games with the Clippers thus far, Bennedict Mathurin is averaging 21 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.0 steals per game in 30 minutes a night.

The Clippers are right back at it Friday night when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers inside Staples Center, which will be the second game of a back-to-back set.

The post Bennedict Mathurin breaks silence after dropping 38 points in Clippers home debut vs. Nuggets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The former Indiana Pacers wing, who came over in the Zubac deal, erupted for a game-high 38 points in 34 minutes off the bench while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and recording five rebounds, four assists and three steals. He sets the new scoring record for a Clippers player making their home debut and also matches a career high, per ClutchPoints reporter Tomer Azarly. That was not all.

Fittingly, Mathurin surpassed Jamal Crawford for the most points by a reserve in their LA debut. This squad has a new offensive spark plug, and he is only 23 years old. After making an underwhelming first impression last Wednesday versus the Houston Rockets, the young Canadian won over legions of Clippers fans by outshining a crop of competitors that included Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray.

Bennedict Mathurin will be a restricted free agent this summer, but it stands to reason that Los Angeles will want to lock him up for the foreseeable future. Tyronn Lue’s team is now just a game below .500, and Darius Garland has yet to even suit up. While this may not be what the city envisioned, excitement is definitely in the air following this hard-fought victory.

The post Clippers’ Bennedict Mathurin makes franchise history with nuclear game vs. Nuggets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Clippers started the season 6-21, but have won 20 of their last 27 games thanks in large part to the strong play of their two-time NBA Finals MVP.

Kawhi Leonard has played 41 games so far this season, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent shooting from the field, 38.3 percent from three, and 91.2 percent from the free throw line.

In an interview with ClutchPoints promoting NBC Sports’ broadcast of NBA All-Star Weekend, Reggie Miller praised Kawhi Leonard for his play and leading the Clippers back from 15 games under .500.

“There’s no questioning Kawhi Leonard’s resume,” Reggie Miller told ClutchPoints. “A two-time champ and two-time Finals MVP. The question marks over the last several seasons have been the injuries and inability to play in the biggest moment in the playoffs. But go back to December, you can make the case that those are MVP-type numbers. It’s a no-brainer that he would be an All-Star game in his building and in his city.”

Since December 20th, Kawhi has averaged 30 points 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.2 steals while shooting 49.3 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent from the field, and 88.5 percent from the free throw line.

In fact, the only players in the last 35 years to have a 300 game span of 24 points on 50-40-88 shooting are Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. Leonard has done this over his Clippers tenure alone.

“I was a little shocked that he initially wasn’t on the team,” Reggie Miller added of Kawhi Leonard. “You can say what you want about the controversy surrounding him and the owner. But that’s a different story. If we’re just talking X’s and O’s and who you would want on your team, he’s got to be top-two or two-three two-way players in today’s game.”

Kawhi Leonard. 31. Dagger. Whew. pic.twitter.com/3PC6pt63ix

— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) February 16, 2026

Carmelo Anthony, another analyst for NBC Sports and a guy who has played 11 games against him, had similar praise for the seven-time NBA All-Star.

“Since December, Kawhi has been one of the top players in this league,” Carmelo Anthony told ClutchPoints. “He’s been in top-notch shape, some of the best shape that I’ve seen him in a long time. So for him to get in shape, get his mental right, and get his body right while going through all that they’re going through with the Clippers? They trade Norman Powell [in the offseason]. They trade James Harden. They start making these moves, and he’s still there and producing on a night-to-night basis. I think he deserved to be in this game, representing the Clippers, Los Angeles, and the NBA as a whole.”

Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers will kick off the second half of their season on Thursday night when they host the Denver Nuggets. It’ll be the first half of a back-to-back set against the Nuggets and Lakers on Friday night.

The post Reggie Miller’s “no-brainer” take on Kawhi Leonard amid near All-Star snub appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On the latest episode of Clutch Scoops, ClutchPoints NBA reporter Tomer Azarly suggested the Clippers could position themselves in potential trade discussions if Antetokounmpo’s situation in Milwaukee shifts.

“The Clippers could enter the Giannis sweepstakes if he’s available,” Azarly said. “They would have four very, very good draft picks, including the two Pacers ones that teams could be interested in. The Bucks could be interested in with a couple of young players. So, could you pair Giannis and Kawhi together? That could be an interesting combo if you’re able to.”

Los Angeles strengthened its draft flexibility at the trade deadline when it dealt Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round selection. The additional draft capital from Indiana is viewed internally as meaningful ammunition should a star-level opportunity arise.

. @TomerAzarly and @BrettSiegelNBA are live to talk NBA All-Star, tanking problems + some early NBA Offseason intel!https://t.co/duIKN4TFxL

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 19, 2026

Giannis Antetokounmpo speculation grows as Clippers evaluate Kawhi Leonard’s future

Antetokounmpo, 31, was heavily linked in trade speculation leading up to the deadline while sidelined with a calf injury. He is averaging 28 points, 10 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting 64.5 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three-point range across 30 games. The Milwaukee Bucks sit 12th in the Eastern Conference at 23-30 following first-round playoff exits in three consecutive seasons.

Antetokounmpo reignited offseason chatter during an exclusive interview with COSMOTE TV.

“As Americans say, opinions are cheap — that’s why everyone has one. Right now, at this moment, I’m in Milwaukee… I don’t know if I’ll leave — it’s not up to me. If it was up to me, maybe I already would have left. In a year and a half, when I become a free agent at 32, it will be up to me,” Antetokounmpo said.

“No one can dare come and tell me not to play. I never gave anyone that right — as long as my legs allow me, I’ll be out there.”

Leonard, 34, remains the Clippers’ cornerstone. In his sixth season with Los Angeles, he is averaging a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three and 91.2 percent from the free-throw line across 41 appearances.

The Clippers (26-28) sit 10th in the Western Conference after rebounding from a 6-21 start and return to action Thursday night when they host the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m. PT.

While any pursuit of Antetokounmpo would hinge on Milwaukee’s willingness to engage in discussions, Azarly’s comments highlight how Los Angeles could leverage its newly acquired draft assets to explore a potential Leonard–Antetokounmpo pairing should circumstances align.

The post Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo dream duo floated for Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

A Clippers offseason trade for Leonard could still be on the horizon, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

“There were two teams in particular that were pursuing Giannis that had made calls to the Clippers about Kawhi Leonard, checking in on his availability,” Siegel said. “If he’s still on the Clippers roster heading into the summer and his contract is not voided, he’s going to be entering the final year of his deal I believe it’s like $50.3 million.

“Regardless of how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it’s going to be viewed like another scenario of when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. It’s the final year of his contract. He can still be a big piece on a championship team even though that’s years later. We saw what Kawhi Leonard can do.”

No one anticipated James Harden’s trade request amidst the team’s most successful stretch of the regular season. Then, the Clippers’ trade with the Indiana Pacers for Ivica Zubac sparked other teams to call about Leonard.

Could Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard head back to Raptors?

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard was the subject of trade rumors ahead of the deadline, and is expected to be, once again, during the offseason, as ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel noted.

“It was then that the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard without knowing what the future held for him in free agency. That move led Toronto to their first NBA championship,” Siegel said.

“Something similar could happen with Leonard this upcoming offseason. Maybe, just maybe, a return to the Raptors to compete for another championship is a scenario we could see play out.”

Perhaps the offseason will reignite trade talks between the Raptors, who were reportedly interested in Ivica Zubac, over the summer, or perhaps a call from the Bucks.

The post NBA rumors: 2 Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitors called Clippers about Kawhi Leonard appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On the latest episode of Clutch Scoops, ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel drew comparisons between Leonard’s current situation and the circumstances that led to his trade from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors in 2018.

“I think if he’s still on the Clippers roster heading into the summer and his contract is not voided. He’s going to be in the final year of his deal,” Siegel said. “I believe it’s like $50.3 million dollars and regardless of how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it’s going to be viewed like another scenario of when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. Final year of his contract. He could still be a big piece of a championship team.”

Leonard, 34, is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game across 41 appearances this season. He is shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three-point range and a career-high 91.2 percent from the free-throw line in 32.8 minutes per contest.

The Clippers were active at the trade deadline as they recalibrated their roster around Leonard. Los Angeles traded Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round selection.

. @TomerAzarly and @BrettSiegelNBA are live to talk NBA All-Star, tanking problems + some early NBA Offseason intel!https://t.co/duIKN4TFxL

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 19, 2026

Clippers reshape roster at deadline as Kawhi Leonard’s offseason future looms

In a separate move earlier in the trade cycle, the Clippers also dealt James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland, signaling a broader shift toward reshaping their core while maintaining offensive firepower.

Siegel noted that from a front office perspective, exploring a Leonard trade this summer could align more closely with the Clippers’ long-term outlook.

“From the front office stand point and if you’re looking at this through the lens of the Clippers future, it probably makes a lot more sense to just trade him the off-season,” Siegel said.

Los Angeles enters Thursday at 26-28, sitting 10th in the Western Conference after rebounding from a 6-21 start. The Clippers return to action following All-Star festivities when they host the Denver Nuggets at 7:30 p.m. PT.

With Leonard potentially entering the final year of his deal this summer, league observers will monitor whether the Clippers follow a path similar to the Spurs’ 2018 decision — a move that ultimately reshaped the championship landscape.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard summer buzz parallels Spurs to Raptors trade of 2018 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Clippers currently have a record of 26-28, winning 20 of their last 27 games after starting the season with a 6-21 record. The comeback has largely been led by star Kawhi Leonard. Given his injury history and the upcoming back-to-back set, everyone wants to know if Leonard will be playing.

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Kawhi Leonard’s injury status vs. Nuggets

Kawhi Leonard has played in 41 of the Clippers 54 games so far this season. He missed 10 games in November 2025 due to a sprained ankle suffered against the Miami Heat and another three games in January 2026 due to swelling in his knee from a hard bump he took against the Detroit Pistons a week prior.

Kawhi Leonard is not listed on the Clippers injury report for Thursday night’s game against the Nuggets and is expected to play, but the team will likely be limiting his minutes given the back-to-back set and the fact that he played significant minutes during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night.

Leonard played the final three games and 34 of the possible 36 minutes for Team Stripes in the NBA All-Star Game.

“He’s on his minutes [restriction],” head coach Tyronn Lue admitted after Wednesday afternoon’s practice. “He’s on his minutes so we just can’t overdo it. Like I’ve said, we’re smart about it. We know we can’t just run him into the ground. As much as he wants to play more and do more, we just know that with that load, we just can’t continue to do it night in and night out. So it’ll be some nights where it’s a little more than others, but for the most part we want to make sure we’re safe with him.”

Kawhi Leonard has made 41 appearances this season, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from three, and 91.2 percent from three throw line. His 27.9 points a night are a personal career-high for the Clippers star while the 2.1 steals per game leads the entire NBA.

Clippers and Nuggets are set to tip off their first game after the All-Star break tonight at 7:30PM PST.

The post Is Kawhi Leonard playing vs. Nuggets in first game after All-Star break? appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer served as a major investor in the company, which paid Leonard $7 million a year to be a brand ambassador for the company for four years. However, as Torre details in his reporting, there’s no evidence of Leonard serving as an ambassador for the brand, which has triggered speculation that the deal with Aspiration was a way for the Clippers to circumvent the cap and give Kawhi extra incentives to play with the Clippers.

Torre’s reporting triggered an investigation by the NBA, and many in NBA circles believe the Clippers are set to receive a harsh penalty for what occurred, per a report by The Athletic.

“In the weeks leading up to Ballmer’s big bash, there was a significant upswing in league-wide speculation that the NBA’s hammer is likely to fall on the Clippers. This was a noticeable shift from earlier in the season, when so many seemed to believe that the Leonard/Aspiration scandal might come and go without any substantive punishment being handed down,” the report stated.

Adam Silver, during media availability on All-Star weekend, spoke about the incident and the investigation. All-Star weekend was held in Los Angeles at the Intuit Dome, the home arena of the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I haven’t come to any decisions whatsoever yet on the Clippers’ matter. As you know, the league office is not directly running the investigation. That’s being overseen by a law firm, Wachtell, in New York. From everything I’ve been told, the Clippers have been fully cooperative. But as I said, I’m not involved day-to-day in the investigation,” he said.

He then continued, outlining the complexity of the investigation, per the comments secured by The Athletic.

”I think, as I’ve said before, it’s enormously complex. You have a company in bankruptcy (Aspiration, which gave Leonard a no-show endorsement deal that was allegedly facilitated by the Clippers). You have thousands of documents, multiple witnesses that have been needed to be interviewed. I will say, just in case anyone is wondering, the fact that All-Star is here this weekend has had no impact on the timeline of the investigation. Our charge to the Wachtell law firm is (to) do the work and then come back and make recommendations to the league office, and that’s where things now stand.”

Despite the investigation and the early-season woes that saw the team unceremoniously release Chris Paul, the Clippers have been on a roll the past couple of months. They sit at 26-28 and have fought to get back into the playoff picture as a play-in team; they are only one game behind the Portland Trail Blazers, who are currently ninth in the standings.

Leonard has been on a tear, averaging 27.9 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.1 steals on 49.1% shooting and 91% from the free-throw line. Thus far, he’s played 41 games this season—four games more than the 37 he played in the 2024-2025 season. But despite their standout play and increased year-over-year numbers, the Aspiration scandal has still been a major topic around the team, and it could affect the winning push that Los Angeles is embarking on.

The Clippers are set to host the Nuggets on Thursday night at 10:30 p.m. Eastern.

The post Clippers rumors: Speculation grows NBA will drop hammer in Kawhi Leonard investigation appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“The Boston Celtics plan to sign Dalano Banton to a 10-day deal, sources told Hoopshype. Banton just completed a 10-day deal with the Clippers. The 26-year-old guard has averaged 6.7 points in 14.5 minutes in five seasons combined with the Raptors, Celtics, Blazers, and Clippers,” Scotto wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Banton played with the Celtics during the 2023-24 season, and only appeared in 24 games where he averaged 2.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in seven minutes.

Since Banton already knows the Celtics’ system, it shouldn’t be hard for him to adjust, and the hope is that he gets signed for the remainder of the season. The one that has helped the Celtics this season is their depth, and it’s a reason why they’ve played so well.

Many didn’t expect the Celtics to be this good, especially with most of the moves they made in the offseason, plus Jayson Tatum not playing because of his Achilles injury. Nonetheless, Jaylen Brown has stepped up in a major way, and it’s almost as if they haven’t missed a bit.

Now, everyone is waiting to see if Tatum will return sometime during the season, and before the All-Star break, he practiced with the G League affiliate, Maine Celtics. After that practice, he noted that it didn’t mean he would be returning, but just a step in the right direction for his rehab.

“Still trying to figure it out. Still just going through the progressions of rehab,” Tatum said. “Not saying that I’m coming back or not. It’s all about being healthy and going through the plan.”

The post Celtics reunites with veteran guard who was just with Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“The Second City Saint” returned to WWE in 2023 and has been on a hot run since then. Scoring two World title wins upon his return, Punk now arguably serves as one of the promotion’s faces. Scheduled to defend his World title against Finn Bálor at Elimination Chamber in Chicago, Punk is also scheduled to be in a World title match against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42.

Weeks before his scheduled matches, Punk was spotted having a potential meeting with Leonard, Ballmer, and WWE’s CEO Khan. A video posted on HoopJab’s YouTube shows Punk and Khan at the Clippers’ practice facility in Los Angeles.

The video begins with Leonard walking around, while Punk and Khan appear in the video a bit later with Ballmer. The video captured Punk carrying his World Heavyweight Championship, Ballmer is also seen with the LA Clippers WWE Legacy title. As of this writing, there have been no confirmations from either side on what the meeting was about.

CM Punk gives honest WWE retirement plans

CM Punk, 47, is arguably nearing the dusk of his career. Last month, during an interview with Cinema Blend, Punk opened up about his retirement plans. “When I was 15, if you asked me if I’d be wrestling when I was 40, I would tell you ‘No, that’s crazy. 40 is so old.’ I’m 47, and I don’t feel old yet. Terry Funk wrestled for a long time,” Punk said.

“Ric Flair wrestled for a long time,” Punk added. “I mean, there are luchadores that are like in their 70s that are still doing it. I would estimate probably the big 50 is when I should maybe gracefully bow out. Knock on wood, if nothing else horrible happens.”

In the span of the last few months, wrestling fans noticed several legends such as John Cena, AJ Styles, and Hiroshi Tanahashi, retire.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Steve Ballmer spotted with WWE’s CM Punk and Nick Khan appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It was a high price to pay — aside from the draft compensation — for a Pacers team that drafted Mathurin sixth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and saw his scoring prowess on display nightly. As an athletic, three-level scorer, Mathurin should be able to fit in seamlessly onto a Clippers team that desperately needs his scoring punch.

“It’s been great so far,” Bennedict Mathurin said after his second practice with the LA Clippers on Wednesday afternoon. “You know, I think we have great guys on the team. Everybody is pretty familiar with my game. So it kind of helps a lot. I think that there’s still a lot more to do and still a lot more to learn with the system, offensively, defensively, and especially off the court as well.”

Bennedict Mathurin on practicing with his new Clippers teammates and his fit with them:

“It's been great so far. I think we have great guys on the team. Everybody is pretty familiar with my game. So it kind of helps a lot. I think that there's still a lot more to do and still a… pic.twitter.com/tFGIPdwUno

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 19, 2026

As great as he has been in his young career, Mathurin was also struggling to receive consistent playing time in Indiana. Whether it was because of Rick Carlisle’s system or simply the need for more catch-and-shoot abilities around Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, Mathurin saw his minutes fluctuate over his last season with the Pacers.

Mathurin played under 15 minutes in nine of the Pacers’ 23 playoff games last season and eclipsed 30 minutes in a game just once over the entire postseason run. Now that he’s shifted to a new team with a bigger need for his scoring abilities, playing time isn’t something he foresees being an issue.

“I think it’s just about me being myself,” Ben Mathurin added. “I just feel like Ty Lue is going to give me the chance to really go out there and play my game without any restrictions. So, I think that’s the biggest, that’s the biggest jump is going to be for me, especially playing with with great players like Kawhi and [Darius Garland] and the rest of the guys on the team, which is going to allow me to short even more.”

Bennedict Mathurin came out of college touted as a high-flying, athletic scorer, and at 6-foot-5, has the ability to be a good defender. That end of the floor is something Mathurin is looking to prove he can do at a high level.

“I’d just say my aggressiveness. I think that [there are some] wrong narratives about me, that I can’t play defense. But people, the people that need to know I play defense, know that I play defense. So, just going out there and doing my job on that end of the floor and just being there for my teammates.”

The last two weeks for Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson have consisted of being traded from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, flying to L.A. to have physicals done, meeting the team in Minneapolis, but not debuting until the team reached Houston for a back-to-back set. Mathurin and Jackson then had the All-Star break to collect themselves before getting back to Los Angeles for practice on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of a back-to-back set on Thursday and Friday.

Bennedict Mathurin on what he wants to prove with Clippers:

“I think that just doing it on a nightly basis, just showing up to work every day. I think that the ability of being consistent here is definitely more realistic, just in terms of role, coming to a new setting. And the… pic.twitter.com/pvfsplSoe9

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) February 19, 2026

“It’s been a lot, man. Like you said, the past two weeks has been trade. It’s been an All-Star break, and then coming back over here. So, super, super grateful to really get going for the second half of the season.

“There’s no challenges at all [with the trade], man. Like I said, I’m super grateful to come and be in the NBA and play, so now it’s just about what I can do to go out there and just being the player that I want to be and the player that the team needs me to be in order for us to win so it’s just about living and learning.”

In 239 career regular season games, Bennedict Mathurin has averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while shooting 44.3 percent from the field. Mathurin was having a career season with the Indiana Pacers prior to the trade, averaging career-highs in points (17.8), rebounds (5.4), and assists (2.3).

The LA Clippers will kick off their post-NBA All-Star break schedule with a back-to-back set against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. Bennedict Mathurin’s new team doesn’t leave the state of California for two weeks, with five home games and the only road games being at the Lakers and at the Warriors.

The post With LA Clippers, Bennedict Mathurin has something to prove appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Garland is currently out of the lineup due to injury, and recently, Law Murray of The Athletic gave the latest update on his possible return status.

“I’m told that LA Clippers point guard Darius Garland is practicing on a limited basis to manage his surgically-repaired left foot toe. Garland will not play tomorrow vs Nuggets or Friday at Los Angeles. Status for Sunday vs Magic to be determined,” reported Murray on X, formerly Twitter.

Murray then clarified that Garland “is week-to-week. Expected to play this season, but debut will likely be in March. Clippers want Garland to be fully over the toe injury when he returns to play.”

Injuries have been a big problem for Garland over the last few seasons with the Cavaliers, which many have blamed for that team not fully taking off yet.

However, when he’s on the floor, the 26 year-old is one of the better scoring point guards in the NBA, able to create his own offense and facilitate for others, having already made two All-Star teams thus far in his career.

The combination of Garland, combined with the treasure trove of assets that the Clippers got back from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Ivica Zubac, will give Los Angeles a solid group of building blocks moving forward, regardless of what the future holds for Kawhi Leonard, who is currently playing some of the best basketball of his career.

The Clippers will next take the floor on Thursday evening vs the Denver Nuggets.

The post Clippers’ Darius Garland injury update hints at March return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Wednesday morning, that finally occurred.

“The Los Angeles Clippers are signing guard Jordan Miller to a new two-year contract, sources tell ESPN. The Clippers are 9-3 when Miller (averaging a career high 9.1 points) scores 10 or more, and have gone 21-12 since he was inserted into the rotation this season,” reported ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania on X, formerly Twitter.

“Miller fills the Clippers’ 15th roster spot and joins Kobe Sanders in having his two-way deal converted,” noted ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel on X.

Miller is one of several Clippers who have been playing some unsung basketball off the bench in Ty Lue’s rotation this year. While Los Angeles’ bench was much-maligned during the first chunk of the season, when the team got off to a disastrous start, they have started to pick things up in recent weeks, providing Kawhi Leonard and company with some support when he’s off the floor.

As Charania noted, the Clippers have put together an impressive record since Miller has been inserted into the rotation.

Los Angeles will next take the floor on Thursday evening against the Denver Nuggets.

The post Clippers fill 15th roster spot with long-awaited signing appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Paul was on the show “7PM in Brooklyn,” where he was asked how the relationship ended in a snap, with him saying that the team wanted him not to give “players advice.” He would explain how there was a “lot of back and forth.”

“I still grasp, and trying to figure out how it got to that,” Paul said. “During training camp, I talked to one of my teammates for a while, and then soon as I went to the meal room, somebody came and told me like they didn’t want me giving players advice.”

Chris Paul details convos with Kawhi, Ty Lue and Lawrence Frank ahead of his abrupt exit from the Clippers pic.twitter.com/fG3ojh2YE4

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) February 17, 2026

Chris Paul speaks on what he said to Clippers about playing his last year

It got to a point where Paul was sent home back in December, but it wasn’t always negative as the star was planning to finish the season and his career with the Clippers, playing in front of his family. He communicated that with head coach Tyronn Lue and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.

“I hit [up] T-Lue, I’m saying like, ‘I love to finish my career here.’ L-Frank, I hit him, said the same thing,” Paul said. “Early in the season, Lawrence Frank sent me an article about how great my leadership was, an article I’d never seen. He texted it to me saying, ‘Man, this is great leadership right here.’ I was extremely grateful, you saw, I was emotional when I went back. I knew it was my last year, and I was getting to play in front of my family.”

While that’s in the rearview mirror, Paul now enjoys retirement after what was a marvelous career.

The post Chris Paul gets 100% real on what led to shocking Clippers exit appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Shaw is best known for his long playing career, which included winning three championships with the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers. The 59-year-old has since enjoyed a successful coaching career since retiring, serving as a Lakers assistant on two different occasions. He has been an assistant for the Clippers since 2021.

The Clippers have obviously had a difficult time enjoying postseason success in recent years despite being loaded with star power. In prior years, they had the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George pairing and more recently they had James Harden and Russell Westbrook. However, they haven’t advanced past the first round since Shaw’s arrival.

Los Angeles made a major move at the trade deadline, unloading 36-year-old star guard, Harden, for 26-year-old guard Darius Garland in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Clippers entered the season with the oldest roster in the NBA at 30.7 years old. However, they are now significantly younger, something that Shaw believes will benefit the team as they look to make a postseason run.

Los Angeles is currently ranked 10th in the Western Conference and playing for a play-in spot. Shaw talked about what Garland brings to the table.

“Darius can guess who you know. I coached Darius with Nike Hoop Academy when he was in high school and just his quickness, his basketball IQ, he’s a great passer, and he can score. We have players on our team that will benefit from him, being able to set the table for him, for them, but as well as just upping the youth and the quickness that we have overall.

“We started out this season as the oldest team in the NBA history,” Shaw continued to say. “When you look at the fact that we started with Chris Paul and James Harden, so we had a pretty old team. We were pretty slow, so now we feel like we can compete with these younger, faster, more athletic teams that are out there.”

Garland is one of the better, more established young guards in the league. The former fifth overall pick is a two-time All-Star selection and has averaged 18.0 points and 6.9 assists per game this season.

The 26-year-old is still recovering from a right toe sprain injury and has yet to make his Clippers debut. With that being said, Garland — along with Leonard — have an opportunity to lead the Clippers back into the playoffs. They’ve been a pretty solid team as of late, with Los Angeles going 20-6 since December 20.

The post Exclusive: Clippers coach reveals why Darius Garland-James Harden trade will help them compete better appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“I thought Kawhi Leonard was terrific. To be the hometown guy, in front of your fans… We need this game to go back to being very competitive.”

"I thought Kawhi Leonard was terrific. To be the hometown guy, in front of your fans… We need this game to go back to being very competitive."

Antoine Walker was a BIG FAN of how Kawhi played in the All-Star Game

(via @FTFonFS1)

pic.twitter.com/Dl7uu6rOiF

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 17, 2026

The NBA All-Star Game format included four games: World vs Stars, Stars vs Stripes, and World vs Stripes. In particular, during the World vs Stripes game, Leonard scored 31 points and shot 11-for-13 from the field as the Stripes won 48-45.

Building on his All-Star Game performance, Leonard is now a seven-time NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019–2021, 2024, 2026). Notably, he was named All-Star Game MVP in 2020. This year, Leonard is averaging 27.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

While Leonard has performed well individually, the Clippers are currently 26-28 and sit 10th in the Western Conference standings. Additionally, Leonard recently contended with a contusion and inflammation in his left knee.

Adding to the challenges this season, Leonard’s achievements drew media attention amid an NBA investigation into his circumventing the salary cap with the help of the defunct company Aspiration.

Leonard has played with the Clippers since 2019, the same year he won an NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors. In the 2021 Playoffs, he tore his ACL, which forced him to miss the 2022 season. The following year, additional knee problems sidelined him.

Walker played 13 NBA seasons (1996 to 2008), was a three-time All-Star with the Celtics, and won a 2006 NBA Championship with the Heat.

The post Kawhi Leonard earns massive props for All-Star performance from ex-Celtics star appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“Whatever you guys want. Whatever you know, grabs the attention of the consumer, I am up for it,” he said when asked whether he liked the new format, per a post on X by ClutchPoints.

“Whatever you guys want. Man, same question. Whatever grabs the attention of the consumer, I’m for it."

Kawhi Leonard on how entertaining the new All-Star Game format was

(via @joeylinn_)pic.twitter.com/kwKecGThs6

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 16, 2026

Not many can question his performance. When fit and firing, Leonard remains one of the best players in the league and arguably the best two-way player in the NBA.

And the same has been seen with the Clippers’ season thus far. After the Clippers stumbled out to a poor start, Leonard’s return to form fueled a dramatic turnaround that has kept the team in playoff conversation.

“I feel like I’m one of the best when I am playing basketball,” he said, even though he went on to question the basis of the rankings.

“That’s for you guys. For me, I think it’s a rotation every day, every week. Because you got guys coming out scoring 50, having great defensive games. And then the next night, somebody else is going to shine. So, for me, the ranking is just based on keeping the hype around the game,” Leonard said, clearly determined to simply continue his rich vein of form.

The 34-year-old is currently averaging 27.9 points, 2.1 steals (both career-highs), 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, and will be well aware that the Clippers rely on him not just for contention, but for postseason qualification as well. The Clippers are currently 10th in the Western Conference with a 26-28 record and need to extend their recent run in order to overtake teams.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard’s take on new All-Star Game format is perfectly Kawhi Leonard appeared first on ClutchPoints.

This was why it was quite perplexing that Leonard did not make it to the All-Star Game roster off the bat, with head coaches around the NBA not deeming the Clippers star worthy of a spot. It wasn’t until a slew of injuries opened up a spot for commissioner Adam Silver to add him to the Team USA Stripes squad. And Leonard put on a show in front of his own home fans at Intuit Dome, popping off for 31 points on 11-13 shooting in just 10 minutes of play in their 48-45 win over Team World.

“For me, it’s like rotation. Everyday. Every week. You get guys coming out scoring 50, having great defensive games. And the next night, somebody’s not playing well, somebody else is gonna shine. For me, the ranking is just based on keeping the hype around the game,” Leonard said.

“I feel like I’m one of the best at when I am playing basketball.”

"I feel like I'm one of the best at when I am playing basketball."

Kawhi Leonard on how the top player in the NBA changes by the day. pic.twitter.com/wrNR0k3LzD

— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026

Kawhi Leonard, is indeed, one of the best in the business for the Clippers

Alleged cap circumvention aside, Leonard is a brilliant two-way player who’s entering a second prime of sorts for the Clippers. From 2021 to 2024, circumstances were very much trying for Leonard, as he dealt with a myriad of knee troubles that prevented him from making a consistent impact for his team, especially in the playoffs.

But Leonard is somehow healthier than he’s ever been since 2019, and the Clippers are looming as a dangerous lower-seeded threat in the West, especially once they get Darius Garland back healthy.

The post Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard shares honest opinion on best NBA player talk appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Leonard exploded by scoring 23 points — including 15 straight in Game 3 of USA versus the World.

15 STRAIGHT POINTS. 23 FOR THE GAME.

KAWHI LEONARD IS GOING OFF

USA Stripes has the lead late… watch here: https://t.co/uaP8VtXA3D https://t.co/yfD9LBTDHq pic.twitter.com/HAScoYGr39

— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026

Leonard sparked immediate reactions from inside the arena to the internet.

“This is his arena,” NBC Sports analyst and past all-star Vince Carter said during the intermission period.

But the internet became besides itself in watching Leonard go off on the scoring end.

Notable reactions for Kawhi Leonard breakout NBA All-Star performance

Fans reacted swiftly to Leonard’s potential Most Valuable Player performance — including one bringing back one of his more famous quotes.

Kawhi ending the World team propaganda pic.twitter.com/iOu7lw8Iw3

— Olympic Zoom (@olympic_zoom) February 16, 2026

The Athletic reacted by mentioning how the past All-Star wasn’t initially voted in by coaches.

His team the Clippers even showered him with love — including typing his name in all caps.

KAWHI ANTHONY LEONARD pic.twitter.com/n6U55CmQxG

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 16, 2026

Leonard dropped 31 points through the new format — pulling off the uncanny feat in just 12 minutes. Sirius XM radio personality Rob Perez called it “One of the best All-Star performances you’ll see, in a game where the players are actually trying.”

Even Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban joined in on the internet praise.

NBA All Star is back. Kawhi vs Wemby

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 16, 2026

Leonard told NBA insider Chris Haynes he had hoped this year’s festivities would become more competitive.

“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets out there first,” Leonard said to Haynes. “For me, personally, we should just go back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it’ll be competitive this year. I don’t know how the format is. But hopefully, guys are out there competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star game.”

Safe to say he took this game seriously.

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However, the Clippers fans showed him love via the famed scoreboard wall right before firing off threes.

“Norman Powell, Norman Powell.”

The Wall was showing lots of love to former Clipper Norman Powell before his opening round

(via @NBAAllStar)

pic.twitter.com/EWcV3btEp4

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 14, 2026

Did Powell, though, make the final cut into the three-point competition championship round?

The ex-Clippers star didn’t make it to the final three. Devin Booker, Kon Knueppel and Damian Lillard advanced on. But again, Powell became the closest thing to a LAC representative for the annual contest during all-star weekend.

Norman Powell delivered rise after Clippers exit

Powell became a fan favorite for the Clippers for four seasons — lining up for the team from 2021 to 2025.

But he’s a first-time NBA All-Star for the Heat at 32 years of age. His journey has grown into one of the feel good stories of this annual event.

Powell delivered all-star caliber production during his time in Southern California. That included producing two seasons of surpassing the 20-point mark. But unfortunately he became a notable snub for the 2021-22 and 2024-25 voting process.

“I think this completes the story,” Powell said via The Miami Herald. “I think it’s like something that you can’t even write down or think of. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, the All-Star Game is in L.A. Now I’m definitely trying to make it.’ I think it just happens that way.”

Now he’s become embraced back in one of his past NBA homes.

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Leonard’s also anticipating a competitive night, he said, per NBA on Prime insider Chris Haynes.

“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets out there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we should just go back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it’ll be competitive this year. I don’t know how the format is. But hopefully, guys are out there competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star game.”

The NBA’s new USA vs. World format will feature three teams — Team World, USA Stars, and USA Stripes — each with eight players, competing in a round-robin tournament.

Leonard will play for the USA Stripes team alongside Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James, and New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson, among others, such as Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, and Cleveland Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell. Toronto Raptors’ Brandon Ingram and San Antonio Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox are replacing injured All-Stars Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Lakers All-Star Luka Dončić, Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokić, and first-time All-Star Jamal Murray will play for Team World. Rockets’ Alperen Sengun, Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns, and Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama are also on the squad, along with first-time All-Star Portland Blazers forward Deni Avdija, nd Indiana Pacers’ Pascal Siakam.

Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards will join Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker, Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, and Detroit Pistons’ All-Star duo, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, on Team USA Stars. Raptors’ Scottie Barnes is also on the squad, along with Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, who’s making his first All-Star appearance.

Kawhi Leonard’s take on Clippers’ Darius Garland trade

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard discussed Darius Garland after the Clippers’ trade with the Cavs at All-Star weekend. While Garland heals from a toe injury, Leonard can’t wait for his addition to the team’s offense when he’s healthy.

“I believe he was probably about 20 or 21 years old when I first got here,” Leonard said. “He was maybe in his third year in the league, so he just kept working and over time he got to the guy that stayed in the fourth quarter and hold down the fort for us in the paint. Also got very skilled in the post, causing double-teams on the mismatch or on guys his size.

“He had a great development, he’s playing well, and he’ll still have a chance to win in Indiana when Tyrese gets back, and they get their whole group in full. It’s not the worst, I told him, so just enjoy his child, and he’ll have a chance to play for a championship.”

The Clippers have won three of their last four games heading into the All-Star break.

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Although the two future Hall of Famers did not share a locker room long, they both understand what it is to be the top guy on the Los Angeles Lakers’ “little brother.” Bringing pride and prestige to a historically embattled franchise can be an excruciating chore. The Clippers are still seeking their first Finals appearance, but both of these men have done their best to keep the squad respectable. There is a certain bond that forms from carrying the same responsibility.

Amid significant roster changes, Leonard is trying to be the stabilizing force that Paul was in the previous era of Clippers basketball. He now has an even greater appreciation for the newly retired point guard. The three-time All-NBA First-Team selection and two-time Defensive Player of the Year spoke on the impact that Paul made on him and the sport as a whole.

“He’s always been great,” Leonard told senior NBA insider Chris Haynes ahead of All-Star Weekend. “A leader, a guy that cares about his family as well, gives you advice on and off the floor. He used to be one of my favorite players coming up, watched him a lot growing up. {Observed} his leadership and how dedicated he was to trying to win a basketball game, his handle, his IQ. So, salute to him. He did it for many years, especially at a guard position — you don’t see that a lot.

“I think you’ll see the things that he’s done. Congratulations to him on his career.”

Caught up with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in LA in advance of the All-Star game on Sunday. Touched on a multitude of topics including if guys will play hard. pic.twitter.com/ppgZi4L5uU

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 14, 2026

Chris Paul did not get the sendoff Clippers fans wanted 

Paul planned to end his stellar NBA run with a second stint in LA, but it became obvious early into the 2025-26 campaign that he was not fitting in with this iteration of the Clippers. The two sides parted ways in December, and then the organization initiated an official split when it traded the four-time All-NBA First-Teamer to the Toronto Raptors last week. He was waived on Friday and promptly announced his retirement, closing the book on a 21-year NBA career.

Although Paul’s final chapter was underwhelming and fraught with tension, Leonard is happy to have called him a teammate, even briefly. The 34-year-old forward will try to finish what Chris Paul started in Los Angeles and launch the Clippers back into title contention.

Despite being 10th in the West, LA has performed at a high level for much of the last two months. Fans hope that No. 2 can keep the squad relevant, just as No. 3 did before him.

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According to a collaborative report published Friday by The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Mike Vorkunov, the results of the independent review conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz are not anticipated until sometime next week. The timing places the decision shortly after Commissioner Adam Silver and league officials gather in Los Angeles for All-Star festivities hosted by Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

“In publicly available bankruptcy filings reviewed by The Athletic, Aspiration’s three largest creditors listed are the Clippers, who say they are owed $30 million by the environmental firm; Forum Entertainment (also owned by Ballmer, claiming it is owed a debt of $11 million); and Leonard’s personal limited liability company, ‘KL2 Aspire,’ claiming a debt of $7 million,” Vardon and Vorkunov wrote.

The report detailed the financial timeline surrounding Leonard’s endorsement agreement with Aspiration. Leonard registered his limited liability company in November 2021, and his reported $28 million contract with the environmental firm began in April 2022. By December 2022, Aspiration was experiencing financial distress.

NBA review of Aspiration payments looms over Clippers’ midseason turnaround

Clippers minority owner Dennis J. Wong invested $2 million into the company during that period. Shortly thereafter, Aspiration paid Leonard $1.75 million, which matched the quarterly payment structure outlined in his contract. Months later, Ballmer invested an additional $10 million as part of a fundraising round in which Wong was reportedly the only new investor.

Those transactions form part of the NBA’s review into whether any financial arrangements between Leonard and Aspiration constituted improper benefits connected to his contract with the Clippers.

The franchise enters All-Star Weekend amid a season marked by turbulence and transition. Los Angeles opened the year 6-21 before rebounding to a 26-28 record heading into the break. At the trade deadline, the Clippers dealt James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland. In a separate trade with the Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles sent Ivica Zubac to Indiana and received Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick.

Leonard, now 34, is in the midst of one of the most productive campaigns of his career. Through 41 games, he is averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1% from the field, 38.3% from three-point range and 91.2% from the free throw line in 32.8 minutes per contest.

While Leonard’s on-court production has helped stabilize the Clippers’ season, the looming results of the Aspiration investigation continue to cast a shadow over the organization. With All-Star festivities underway in Ballmer’s newly constructed arena, the league’s findings are expected to provide clarity on one of the NBA’s most closely watched off-court matters.

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The game felt like a grind for the majority of the night, with Los Angeles struggling to find a rhythm offensively. However, Leonard took matters into his own hands when it counted most, exploding for 19 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter alone.

He capped off the night with a signature fadeaway jumper while being fouled with just two seconds remaining, converting the three-point play to seal the win. Along with his scoring outburst, Leonard hauled in 12 rebounds, extending his career-best streak of 20-point games to 33.

After the game, the two-time Finals MVP pointed to the team’s resilience as the deciding factor. “Just keep fighting, we kept fighting all night, we didn’t give up. We thought we could win this basketball game. We didn’t play good basketball yesterday, and really not today, so we just wanted to play better basketball, and we did that in the 4th quarter.”

Smiling Kawhi is the best Kawhi pic.twitter.com/l6J3bUUuuN

— Lauren Rosen (@LaurenMRosen) February 12, 2026

The Rockets did not make it easy, led by 21 points from Kevin Durant and a spark off the bench from rookie Reed Sheppard, who finished with 17. Alperen Sengun also played a massive role, scoring a late layup and a clutch free throw to tie the game at 102 with seven seconds left. Despite the pressure, Leonard stayed composed, grabbed the rebound on Sengun’s missed second free throw, and called the timeout that set up his heroics.

With the win, the Clippers head into the All-Star break with a much-needed boost of momentum.

The post Kawhi Leonard credits Clippers for fighting after tough win vs. Rockets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

With the score at 102-102 and with time running out in regulation, the Clippers went with their best player in the most important possession of the contest. Leonard was able to find his way to the paint for a closer look at the bucket, spinning before rising up for a jumper that found its target. He also drew a foul in the process.

You can check out the incredible sequence from The Klaw here:

KAWHI GAME WINNER!!!

Kawhi Leonard RISES UP for the and-1 to win it for the Clippers

pic.twitter.com/QV34O3XO5a

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 12, 2026

Leonard then sank the bonus free-throw shot, as the Clippers came away with a 105-102 victory over Kevin Durant and company at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

That shot perhaps also best defines how unstoppable Leonard was during the game, particularly in the fourth quarter, where he scored 19 of his 27 points. Overall, he shot 9-for-20 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds, while hitting eight of his nine attempts from the foul line. He added four assists and four steals in 33 minutes of action for the Clippers.

With James Harden and Ivica Zubac gone, and Darius Garland yet to make his debut for the Clippers, Leonard has to keep carrying the load for Los Angeles, which improved to 26-28 following its takedown of the Rockets.

However, Leonard got ample support from his teammates against Houston, with five other Clippers players scoring in double figures, including Bennedict Mathurin and Kris Dunn, who each scored 16 points.

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Of course, then there are situations where trades simply do not develop as some had anticipated.

Take Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, for example. This is one of those scenarios where the star player held virtually no market value amid all the other activity at the NBA trade deadline. There was never any deal close to happening for Morant and the Grizzlies, which is why he enters the back half of the 2025-26 season as a prime trade candidate in the summer.

Then there are situations like the one that transpired with Ivica Zubac and the Los Angeles Clippers. In the week leading up to the trade deadline, the Clippers signaled to every team calling about Zubac that they were not interested in trading him and that he would remain with the team, even after the James Harden-Darius Garland swap.

This obviously did not hold true, as the Clippers dealt Zubac to the Indiana Pacers in the final hour before the NBA trade deadline passed. How did this trade come together so fast, and why did the Clippers all of a sudden change their stance on trading their starting center?

Both Morant and Zubac are on opposite sides of the spectrum regarding the trade deadline: one was traded, and one was not.

That is the nature of the NBA trade deadline, and like both these players, so many other notable names and teams were involved in advanced trade discussions leading up to this past Thursday’s deadline. With that said, let’s dive right into what happened with Morant and why the next few months are expected to be his last in Memphis.

What’s next for Ja Morant, Grizzlies?

Since his feud with head coach Tuomas Iisalo and the coaching staff on Oct. 31, nothing has gone right for Morant and the Grizzlies. Aside from his injury concerns, Morant and the organization have been at odds, resulting in a new path being charted by GM Zach Kleiman and this front office.

It is very clear, especially after the trade deadline, that the Grizzlies are rebuilding and gathering assets for the future success of the franchise. Desmond Bane was traded in the summer for a slew of first-round picks, and now Jaren Jackson Jr. finds himself in a new home, as he was dealt to the Utah Jazz for three first-round picks and young talents like Walter Clayton Jr. and Taylor Hendricks.

Jackson’s trade came as a surprise to many fans, but the fact of the matter is that teams had been calling the Grizzlies about Jackson since before the holidays. As previously reported on ClutchPoints in early November, teams began making calls not only about Morant’s availability but also about Jackson’s as well.

At the time, pursuing the former Defensive Player of the Year seemed like nothing more than a long shot. However, with the Grizzlies not going anywhere in the standings and Kleiman wanting to hit the reset button with Morant, Memphis began seriously discussing trade avenues with teams regarding Jackson at the start of 2026, league sources said.

Jackson became a prime trade candidate for several teams around the league, including the Golden State Warriors, who held multiple trade discussions with the Grizzlies in the month leading up to the Feb. 5 trade deadline. The Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, and Atlanta Hawks all checked in with Memphis about Jackson as well.

How far these talks went and each team’s level of interest in Jackson is unknown.

Two other surprising teams that league sources pinpointed as teams with interest in Jackson before the trade deadline include the Phoenix Suns and Charlotte Hornets. The belief among league personnel is that the Hornets’ interest was real rather than exploratory. As far as the Suns’ interest in Jackson goes, one can’t overlook his Michigan State connection with owner Mat Ishbia.

But the main reason the Suns did not pursue an all-in move like adding Jackson was due to the organization’s desire to keep their core group together. Phoenix did not want to shake up its roster and run into cap problems again by adding stars on big contracts. That is why their interest was described more as exploratory than anything else, simply seeing where Memphis’ head was at in trading Jackson.

With Jackson gone, Morant is the last man standing from the Grizzlies’ recent era of success. After all, it was not too long ago that this team won 56 games and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. Now, a new rebuilding era will commence in Memphis, and a trade involving Morant looks all too likely entering the summer.

So, why wasn’t Morant traded now at the deadline?

Rival teams around the league viewed Morant in the same light as Trae Young, where they would not sacrifice true assets for him, sources said. In fact, some teams the Grizzlies had reached out to regarding a potential Morant trade felt as if they were the ones who should be getting assets in return for taking on the 26-year-old’s contract.

Kleiman and the Grizzlies would not sell low by any means on Morant, which is why he remained with the team past the deadline. League sources say the Grizzlies would have done a deal if they received an offer including a first-round pick.

As far as what his future holds, Morant wants to play and return to the court this season once he is cleared from his current elbow injury, sources said. Whether the Grizzlies allow him to play again, seeing as they will likely begin tanking near the end of the season, is yet to be determined.

Whatever happens the rest of the season, it is very likely that Morant will be traded this upcoming offseason.

Clippers not fully rebuilding

Once Harden was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers less than 48 hours before the NBA trade deadline, teams began making calls to the Clippers to get a sense of what their next move was. Trading for Garland was not a step back necessarily for Los Angeles, but sending Harden to Cleveland led many teams to once again reach out about Zubac.

When the Clippers were 6-21 at the bottom of the league standings, rival franchises were calling the Clippers almost daily to see what the likelihood of them being sellers at the trade deadline was. Throughout their early-season struggles, executive Lawrence Frank and the Clippers’ front office continually told teams that they did not want to give up on the season or shake up their core.

As previously reported at ClutchPoints with Tomer Azarly, the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and Charlotte Hornets were among five different organizations that held strong interest in Zubac before the December holidays. One team even offered a first-round pick and a future swap, which was later revealed to be Boston.

Interest in Zubac did not go away, especially from the Pacers’ perspective. Their main goal before the trade deadline was to find a way to move Bennedict Mathurin and add a center who could immediately get them back into the championship mix when Tyrese Haliburton returns for the 2026-27 season.

The Pacers continued to make calls to the Clippers in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, league sources said. At the same time, Indiana was also discussing what it would take to trade for Daniel Gafford from the Dallas Mavericks and Yves Missi from the New Orleans Pelicans. Other players, such as Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe from the Brooklyn Nets, were viewed as potential Pacers trade targets.

Zubac was the player Indiana had at the top of their list, which is why they continued to make an aggressive push for the All-Defensive center in the immediate aftermath of Harden being traded. Although the Clippers did not want to trade Zubac, this was seen as an opportunity to sell high and regain lost assets from previous deals made through the years.

As of Wednesday night before the trade deadline, the Clippers still held no interest in trading Zubac, yet the Pacers’ relentless approach resulted in them putting their coveted 2026 first-round pick on the table. This was a non-negotiable, as Los Angeles insisted that this pick be involved in a trade for Zubac before the deadline, sources said.

While the Pacers did not want to trade such a valuable draft asset for Zubac, they got creative by protecting it 1-4 and 10-30. Essentially, since the Pacers hold the second-worst record in the NBA, they currently hold slightly over a 50 percent chance at retaining this pick inside the top four. Should Indiana not get a top-four pick in the draft lottery, the Clippers will get this pick instead.

How the NBA Draft lottery plays out with this specific selection will be very telling for the Clippers’ immediate future, as landing a top prospect with the fifth or sixth selection would give them more reason to start fresh and devote time to their newfound youth.

That, along with Harden and Zubac being traded, is why Leonard is viewed as a major question mark in LA.

The talk among scouts and league personnel since the trade deadline is that a few teams called the Clippers about Leonard’s availability in the days leading up to the trade deadline after Harden was traded. Teams that spoke with ClutchPoints after the trade deadline hinted at Los Angeles receiving calls for Kawhi, but we were unable to confirm the exact teams or any legitimate details on the matter.

This upcoming offseason, Leonard will be entering the final year of his contract at $50.3 million, and it is expected that teams will engage in conversations with the Clippers about trading for the 34-year-old. Even though his knee health and injury concerns stand out, many are already comparing these upcoming talks to Leonard being traded by the San Antonio Spurs in the final year of his contract before the 2018-19 season.

It was then that the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard without knowing what the future held for him in free agency. That move led Toronto to their first NBA championship.

Something similar could happen with Leonard this upcoming offseason. Maybe, just maybe, a return to the Raptors to compete for another championship is a scenario we could see play out.

Big man market heated up before Ivica Zubac trade

This year’s trade deadline was all about frontcourt talent. Multiple teams were looking to improve at the power forward and center positions, which is why we saw names like Ivica Zubac, Nikola Vucevic, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Jock Landale on the move.

However, plenty of notable frontcourt players involved in trade talks throughout the weeks before the trade deadline ended up staying with their current teams. This list includes Daniel Gafford, Yves Missi, Nic Claxton, Walker Kessler, and Domantas Sabonis.

Since many of these players were rumored trade targets for the Raptors, let’s just start there.

Sabonis was the top name linked to the Raptors throughout this year’s trade cycle, as Toronto made it clear they would be making some sort of move to add depth either in place of or next to Jakob Poeltl, who has been dealing with nagging back problems all season. Toronto also had a goal of moving below the luxury tax, which is the move they ultimately decided to make.

Despite the Raptors and Sacramento Kings engaging in serious trade talks about Sabonis, nothing ever truly materialized as far as Sabonis being on the verge of heading to Toronto because nobody around the league wanted to take on Poeltl’s contract. These two teams are expected to talk about Sabonis again in the offseason, especially since the Kings hold high interest in RJ Barrett, sources said.

In addition to talking with the Kings about Sabonis and the Grizzlies about Jackson Jr., the Raptors also made a very strong push the day of the trade deadline for Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. Multiple first-round picks were offered by the Raptors for Kessler, who is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder, yet the Jazz held zero interest in trading their young big man.

Other teams, including the Pacers before landing Zubac, showed heavy interest in trading for Kessler. The Jazz are fully expected to retain Kessler as a restricted free agent in the summer on a new long-term contract. After trading for Jackson Jr., Utah sees itself having a formidable big-man trio that can do damage defensively during the 2026-27 season.

The Pacers were certainly the most active team when it came to pursuing a center at this year’s deadline. Kessler was on their radar next to Zubac, and Indiana held trade conversations with the Mavericks about Gafford as well, sources said. His rim-running abilities and pick-and-roll fit next to the Pacers’ guards would have made a lot of sense, but these negotiations never truly gained any steam.

Whereas Dallas was looking to add an immediate first-round pick in 2026, Indiana was not prepared to offer this pick for Gafford by any means. It also didn’t help that the Mavericks did not hold much interest in Bennedict Mathurin, given his upcoming extension talks in the summer. The Mavs’ main goal was to have clean cap books entering the summer, which is why trading Davis to Washington was essential.

Another team that the Mavericks talked with at length about Gafford was the Atlanta Hawks, sources said. Along with a level of interest in Davis, the Hawks were exploring Gafford’s price point and seeing if they could land him utilizing the expiring contracts of either Kristaps Porzingis or Luke Kennard, as well as a future first-round pick.

Since Atlanta was not willing to discuss their second 2026 first-round pick, which is currently expected to be the Cleveland Cavaliers’ pick, these talks with Dallas never progressed.

Missi was another heavily discussed center this trade cycle, with the Chicago Bulls holding strong interest in him. Although Chicago attempted to trade for Missi on the day of the trade deadline, utilizing several second-round picks they had acquired, the Pelicans were not open to trading the young center unless they were to receive a first-round pick, sources said.

As a result, Missi will now be a prime trade target for teams around the time of the 2026 NBA Draft in June, as the Pelicans want to try to regain a first-round pick in this year’s draft.

Timberwolves to be aggressive in offseason

The Minnesota Timberwolves made an aggressive push for Giannis Antetokounmpo, one that would have involved several other teams in a multi-team framework to pair the Greek Freak with Anthony Edwards. Ultimately, the Milwaukee Bucks were never serious about trading Giannis at this year’s trade deadline, which is why Minnesota, along with several other teams, will once again look to pursue him in the summer.

After back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances, the Timberwolves have high aspirations to win the Western Conference and make the NBA Finals this season. Coming up short of this goal will result in changes to maximize Edwards’ emergence as one of the best players in the entire league.

One interesting note on the Wolves, outside of their strong pursuit of Giannis, is that Minnesota checked in on a few star-level players to see if there were any potential buy-low opportunities around the league in January. One of those stars was Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, sources said. Chris Haynes was first to report on the Wolves’ interest in Ball.

The Timberwolves wanted to add a key backcourt piece next to Edwards before this year’s deadline, and after seeing Trae Young traded in a salary-dump-like move by the Hawks, Minnesota made a call about LaMelo.

League sources have described these talks from the Timberwolves as more “exploratory” than anything else, especially since there were no active talks between the two sides leading into the first week of February before the trade deadline. The Hornets were not interested in trading Ball, and the Timberwolves were simply interested in seeing if his price matched that of Young’s, which it did not.

Even though they did make a trade for Ayo Dosunmu, expect to see the Timberwolves be very aggressive in the summer to maximize their championship future. New owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore are focused on making their team a true title contender, and it appears they will be willing to pay whatever price it takes to win.

We mentioned Kawhi Leonard’s market likely to heat up in the offseason, and perhaps he would become a prime target for the Timberwolves if landing Giannis isn’t a realistic path.

Lakers’ immediate outlook & LeBron James’ future

With plenty of expiring contracts, many expected the Los Angeles Lakers to make a key upgrade to help their playoff push. Unfortunately for the Lakers, there was simply no market for them with their lack of assets and the wing market being completely dry.

Near the start of January, the Lakers held discussions with the Pelicans about Herb Jones, who was one of Los Angeles’ top trade targets, sources said. While the Lakers did explore the possibility of flipping their future 2031 first-round pick to try to get extra assets in a trade for Jones, the Pelicans were not interested in anything being offered.

The Lakers also attempted to pursue Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, who Los Angeles also held interest in around the time of NBA Summer League in the offseason. However, Wiggins was held out of trade talks by the Heat unless there was a path to them strengthening their package for Giannis. That was not the case here with a potential Lakers trade.

Luke Kennard ended up being the Lakers’ only deadline addition, and he should leave his mark as a sharpshooter receiving passes from Luka Doncic and LeBron James, two of the best passers in the entire league.

As for LeBron and his future, many around the NBA are still of the belief that the 2025-26 season will not be his last. League sources who spoke with ClutchPoints believe James has one more year left in him and that he will want to finish his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, making what would be his 24 years in the league full circle.

How could the Cavs even make this work given their financial situation?

Well, there was a lot of talk after the Garland-Harden swap that the Cavaliers wanted to cut even more salary than they did. As things currently stand, the Cavs are $4.5 million over the second apron and will enter the summer as a second-apron team.

Max Strus and Jarrett Allen were two players who emerged in trade rumors during the days leading up to the deadline, yet both players remained with Cleveland. Could one or both players be involved in more discussions this offseason? Will the Cavs look to make a significant upgrade next to Harden and Donovan Mitchell using these two players?

Whatever the case may be here with the Cavs’ offseason plans, they can create enough space to give James a contract other than a minimum deal. Whether or not Cleveland would be willing to part ways with key assets like Strus and Allen to make this possible is the big question.

Nonetheless, the overwhelming majority see LeBron finishing his career during the 2026-27 season in Cleveland.

The post NBA trade deadline intel: Why Grizzlies didn’t deal Ja Morant after Jaren Jackson Jr., Ivica Zubac shocker fallout appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Garland is a two-time All-Star who’s in the middle of his prime, giving the Clippers a young-ish piece to build the team around. He’s only 26 years of age, and he’s a dynamic floor general who can shoot from everywhere on the court, and once he’s healthy, he should help keep LA afloat as they look to fork over as bad of a pick as they can to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I’m super excited, really. … I just wanna make [Kawhi Leonard’s] life a little bit easier, trying to give him some open shots. Try to get everybody some open shots, really. Try to push the pace a little bit and try to win some games as much as we can,” Garland said in an interview with Lauren Rosen of FanDuel Sports Network.

“[I’m] somebody that’s just trying to win basketball games, trying to have fun with it.”

"Somebody that's just trying to win basketball games, trying to have fun with it" – Darius Garland on what he's gonna bring to the squad pic.twitter.com/CJOAtSmGZM

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 11, 2026

Darius Garland should have chip on his shoulder after Clippers trade

Garland has to be very excited about the opportunity in front of him with the Clippers. He was being scapegoated for the Cavs’ playoff failures, and he now at least will be getting a fresh start in LA.

The 26-year-old floor general will have the keys to the Clippers’ offense, and he won’t be sharing the backcourt with another high-usage player like Donovan Mitchell. And to top it all off, he’ll be playing with a chip on his shoulder as the Cavs thought Harden was an upgrade over him.

The post Clippers’ Darius Garland reveals what fans should expect from his game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Some fans wondered whether the league’s current investigation into the Clippers, and the alleged no-show deal they gave Kawhi Leonard to circumvent the NBA salary cap, might have played a role in the team’s decision to blow up the current core, but recently, team president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was adamant that this was not the case.

“We haven’t learned anything more than we have in September,” said Frank, per ESPN.com. “We know it’s out there, we know at some point there’ll be a decision made. We very much feel the same thing that we told you back in September, that we’re on the right side of this. It really doesn’t impact anything we do on a daily basis.”

At this point, there is no indication as to when the NBA might finally have a ruling on the investigation, which was prompted by reporting from Pablo Torre into the alleged Leonard controversy.

The Clippers are slated to host the NBA All-Star weekend next weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

Meanwhile, Leonard has been playing some of the best basketball of his career in recent weeks, turning back into the two-way force that took the league by storm with the San Antonio Spurs and helping guide the Clippers slowly up the standings in the vaunted Western Conference.

In any case, the Clippers will next take the floor on Tuesday evening for a road game against the Houston Rockets.

The post What Lawrence Frank said about Aspiration investigation after Clippers’ James Harden, Ivica Zubac trades appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Clippers traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers the Tuesday before the NBA trade deadline, and Ivica Zubac was subsequently traded to the Indiana Pacers just one hour before Thursday’s deadline, marking a significant shift in the future of the franchise.

Harden made his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night, where the Cavs took down the Sacramento Kings. After the contest, Harden spoke with members of the media to explain his side of NBA trade deadline week and how the trade out of Los Angeles came together.

“Life comes at you fast!” Harden joked first, before answering. “We just, I think it was just amazing for both sides. Like just being open and transparent with each other, I think it was the best move for both sides and I think it worked out for both sides very well. I’m sure they’re happy where they are and they got some young talent, they got a couple picks, and for me, just here with some great guys and ultimately trying to compete for a championship.

“It’s one of the best organizations that I’ve been in, top to bottom, from Steve Ballmer to Lawrence Frank and everybody else in the front office to all of the coaching staff, Tyronn Lue, Jeff Van Gundy, all of the coaching staff that helped me still become the player that I am. And then for my teammates, Kawhi [Leonard] for holding down, Big [Ivica Zubac], and all of the rest of the guys. I’m appreciative of the opportunity and I would never take it for granted.

Led by James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers had run off 17 wins over a 21-game stretch since December 20th, the best record in the NBA over that span. But Harden and the Clippers clearly saw the potential for both sides to come out with a win in this trade deadline, and facilitated the deal that sent Harden to Cleveland and brought Darius Garland to Los Angeles.

The new Cleveland Cavaliers guard says he was informed that the trade was in discussions one week before the NBA trade deadline.

“Maybe about a week before?” Harden added. “Maybe about a week before, I was informed that the trade was a possibility and then I’m like, ‘Oh wow.’ But me and L. Frank had conversations about my contract not being guaranteed. Which I understand that part. There’s a part where if we’re not good enough, they’ve got to make decisions for their team. The opportunity came up and it was like, alright, I had to make a decision that was best for my family. I think both sides made the right decision. Credit to those guys. Much love to those guys. I hope for the best for them and much success. For the Cavs, I’m excited to be here and a bright future for us.”

Harden played a grand total of 195 of a possible 205 regular season games (95.1%) across his three seasons with the LA Clippers, averaging 21.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in those appearances. He set the franchise record for scoring with 55 points in the Clippers’ win against the Charlotte Hornets on November 22, 2025.

His time albeit short will be remembered fondly by those within the organization and fans alike.

“My job is to go out there and be a leader, be helpful, be encouraging to not only players, but staff members. We’re human. So it was just an opportunity to bond with people, understand them, what they go through in real life, and who they are as people, their families, their kids. That’s what it’s about. People from the outside looking it are like, ‘Oh, James gets traded and is making jokes, joking around, and saying things on social media.’ But in reality we all live a real life and we all got jobs to do. I feel like I did my job in the sense of leaving an impact on, maybe it’s one individual, maybe it’s a whole organization.

“Basketball is one thing. You try to win a championship, but it’s only one team that wins a championship. But you still can be a really good person throughout your time and wherever you are to people. Because you never know who’s having a bad day. You never know what stamp you can leave on somebody’s day or life. It was real love for me. Like I said, this is a business. This is my 17th year, so I understand that part of it, but life goes on and you’ve got to move on with it.”

In his debut with the Cavs, Harden recorded 23 points, two rebounds, and eight assists, including 15 points in the fourth quarter to help Cleveland hold off and defeat the Sacramento Kings.

The post James Harden breaks down why he asked for trade to Cavs appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Clippers traded Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers in the final hour of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, acquiring Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and a couple of potentially valuable draft picks in the process. The franchise had been refusing trade offers for their center for months, but offers from the Pacers gradually got more aggressive to the point where a deal was hard to turn down.

Head coach Tyronn Lue spoke with members of the media immediately after the trade deadline, breaking down what it was like to be in the Clippers practice facility when the franchise had to make the difficult decision to trade Zubac to the Pacers.

“I mean it was super tough,” Lue said. “I saw Zu grow from day one from not playing the fourth quarters to winning games down the stretch and being a big part of what we did offensively and defensively every single night. And so to lose a guy like Zu with his stature, what he stood for, even off the floor as a person, it’s tough. And a lot of people in the organization the other day was crying. It was a tough day for us, an emotional day. And you hate to see yourself lose a player like that. And so it was a tough day.”

Before tonight’s game, I asked Tyronn Lue about how tough it was to lose Ivica Zubac, a player he’s been with for seven years.

Lue: “Super tough. I saw Zu grow from day one … A lot of people in the organization yesterday was crying. It was a tough day for us. Emotional day.” pic.twitter.com/S0ztiHb14s

— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) February 7, 2026

Lue has watched Zubac grow from a reserve who struggled to get on the floor in fourth quarters to an All-NBA and All-Defensive caliber player in a few short years, highlighting his incredible development in the league.

Ivica Zubac was named to the All-Defensive Second Team and finished sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2024-25 regular season. It was a huge acknowledgement to his development as a player and the ability to lead a team, as the Clippers surprised everyone by winning 50 games last season.

In 80 appearances last season, Zubac averaged 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 62.8 percent from the field.

“The process is going to be hard, understandably, when you lose a great guy like Zu,” Lue added. “He was the longest-tenured guy on the team. so when you lose him, you lose James, you lose Kobe who’s been here for three years, it’s tough. I can’t speak for those guys in the locker room, but I know its tough on them, but you still got to be professional, you’ve got to do your job, no matter what the circumstances are.

“Lawrence Frank was telling the truth. He didn’t want to let Zu go. He didn’t. Neither did any of the coaching staff, but as the deal got better and better, it was good for our future and what we can do now, we had to make those decisions. It’s tough, but we gotta get through it.”

The Clippers had gone 17-4 since December 20th, easily the best record in the league. The 6-21 start was a thing of the past and many believed the Clippers could make a legitimate play-in or even playoff push with how well they’ve been playing.

But the trade sending out James Harden and Ivica Zubac will make things more difficult as the team tries to incorporate three new players into the rotation while managing the foot injury of Darius Garland’s.

“We’re still going to play to win games and be competitive. Getting Garland back when he’s ready to go, that’s the most important thing. But we still can win games, we can compete at a high level, and when you trade two of your three top players, it seems like it’s a tough path but we’ve been through tougher. So we’ve got to be able to come out every single night, compete at a high level, and let the chips fall where they may. Our guys in the locker room believe they can win, and that’s the biggest thing.”

Tyronn Lue and the Clippers have gotten the post-trade deadline stretch off to a strong start, with two wins over the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves. Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson joined the team in Minneapolis and are expected to make their debuts tomorrow when the Clippers face the Houston Rockets.

Darius Garland, meanwhile, remains out with what the Clippers are calling left toe injury management. The former Cleveland Cavaliers guard underwent surgery on his left toe in the offseason, and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank said the team will continue to manage the soreness in his foot in order to ensure the best future for himself and the franchise.

The post Tyronn Lue reacts to ‘super tough’ Ivica Zubac trade to Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The moves sent shockwaves throughout the league, given how many teams who had been calling the Clippers for months about trading for their best players only to be rebuffed.

It now means that Kawhi Leonard is the longest tenured Clipper and sort of the “last man standing” from the last couple of years.

After the Clippers’ game against the Sacramento Kings, Leonard spoke with members of the media, where he broke down just how he felt after the trade of Ivica Zubac.

“I believe he was probably about 20 or 21 years old when I first got here,” Kawhi Leonard said. “He was maybe in his third year in the league, so he just kept working and over time he got to the guy that stayed in the fourth quarter and hold down the fort for us in the paint. Also got very skilled in the post, causing double-teams on the mismatch or on guys his size. He had a great development, he’s playing well, and he’ll still have a chance to win in Indiana when Tyrese gets back and they get their whole group in full. It’s not the worst, I told him, so just enjoy his child and he’ll have a chance to play for a championship.”

The trade sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavs had been in the works for some time, and so while it was a bit of a surprise, it also wasn’t completely unexpected.

Ivica Zubac’s trade to the Indiana Pacers, however, came as a painful shock to everyone within the organization.

“It’s almost like losing a brother,” Leonard added. “We see these people, the players around here more than we see our families, in a sense, throughout the NBA season. just somebody that will be missed. Like you said, I played a lot of games with him, a lot of battles. He’s a face that we’re gonna miss in the locker room.”

Since December 20th, when the team was 6-21 on the season, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers flipped the season and run off 17 wins over their next 21 games. The 17-4 stretch was the best record in the NBA during that time, and put them firmly in the fight for a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.

Harden’s trade re-shifted the Clippers’ focus to getting a little younger and remaining competitive with a guy like Darius Garland. The Zubac trade, however, does put some question marks on the Clippers’ ability to compete at a high level for the rest of this season.

Having come into the 2025-26 season as the oldest team in NBA history, Leonard understood the need for the franchise to get younger with star talent while also accruing assets that they simply haven’t had the chance to obtain.

“We were just trying to get younger. We came in the year with the oldest team. It makes sense for them to try to get some assets and try to build for the future. It’s a big class coming in 2027, hopefully. They gotta do what’s best for them. I thought we were tracking well the last six weeks. Everybody has human nature. It’s a complete turnaround from what I thought we could potentially do. Not saying we were contenders, but we thought we could make some noise or mess someone’s season up. Now the tides changed. We’ll get back into it, hopefully after All-Star.”

The Clippers have earned two hard-fought victories over the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves coming out of the NBA trade deadline, with two more games remaining against the Houston Rockets before the NBA All-Star break.

Entering Monday, the Clippers hold a record of 25-27 and are the ninth seed in the Western Conference. They sit just a half-game ahead of the Blazers for the 10-seed and 2.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the eighth seed.

In 39 appearances this season, Kawhi Leonard is averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.7 three-pointers made per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three.

The post Kawhi Leonard keeps it real on Ivica Zubac trade to Pacers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“League sources tell The Stein Line that the LA Clippers were hit with multiple trade inquiries for Kawhi Leonard in the final hour before last Thursday’s 3 pm ET trade deadline sounded after it had become known league-wide that the Clippers had agreed to send Ivica Zubac to Indiana,” Stein reported.

Stein suggested that Leonard’s situation is one that teams are monitoring, and there is expected to be continued trade interest once the offseason arrives. Leonard will be entering the final year of a three-year contract he signed with the Clippers ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Since starting off the season at 6-21, the Clippers have made a miraculous turnaround having won 17 of their last 21 games. They are now firmly in the race for the play-in presently in ninth place in the Western Conference standings with a record of 25-27.

It’s been the play of Leonard that has been a major reason behind the Clippers surge in the standings. He’s appeared in 39 games at a little over 32 minutes per game. He’s been averaging a career-high 28.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals with splits of 49.5 percent shooting from the field, 38.9 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 91.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

While initially being left out of the All-Star Game, Leonard was recently named as an injury replacement, making this his seventh career All-Star appearance.

The post NBA rumors: Kawhi Leonard trade suitors made last-minute pitches to Clippers right before deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo was the biggest name on the trading block ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Ultimately, the Milwaukee Bucks decide to hold onto him. Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have played a game of cat and mouse for far too long. The two-time MVP, who is arguably the best player in franchise history, has signaled interest in a trade on multiple occasions because it seems unlikely that the Bucks can build a contender around him.

However, every time that Antetokounmpo soft-launches a trade request, he seemingly backpedals and claims he wants to be a lifelong Buck. It is unclear whether Antetokounmpo’s hesitancy to commit to a full-blown trade request is because he genuinely wants to play in Milwaukee or because he doesn’t want to be villainized. Regardless, it now seems like just a matter of time until the Greek Freak actually is moved.

The Bucks have little draft capital to improve the roster going forward, and it is clear that they aren’t contenders as is. Their only trade deadline move was to bring in Nigel Hayes-Davis and Ousmane Dieng, neither of whom likely improves the team’s outlook going forward.

If Antetokounmpo is again put on the trading block, all trade talks league-wide will come to a halt until his situation is figured out. Antetokounmpo is still one of the very best players in the NBA. He is a 6-foot-11 freak of nature who bullies opponents inside with brute force. Antetokounmpo can play at a Defensive Player of the Year level on the less glamorous end of the court, too.

Teams have learned from the Dallas Mavericks’ mistakes and won’t trade their megastars for underwhelming packages. The Bucks likely didn’t get a huge package at the trade deadline, but teams may be more willing to mortgage their future for Antetokounmpo in the offseason.

Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers blew their core up at the trade deadline. James Harden was swapped out for a younger Darius Garland, and Ivica Zubac was traded for a package centered around draft capital. Clearly, a new era of Clippers basketball is kicking off, but Kawhi Leonard is still on the roster.

Leonard is a polarizing player whose future is a complete mystery. When healthy, Leonard is one of the best players in the NBA because he is an all-time great defender who can score as the top option. Of course, Leonard has struggled to stay on the court for years. There is also the matter of the ongoing investigation regarding Aspiration and potential salary cap circumventing.

It is unclear what will come from the issue, nor is it clear if the NBA would have even allowed a Leonard trade at the deadline. Leonard has also shown an unwillingness to play outside of Los Angeles. If the league rules that Leonard can be moved, and if teams are comfortable taking him on despite the investigation, injury concerns, and taking him away from his home, then Leonard would be highly coveted in the trade market. He is a player who fits in any scheme and has championship experience with multiple organizations.

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have been growing frustrated with Ja Morant in recent years. The point guard has been suspended on multiple occasions, and his play has slipped in recent seasons. The Grizzlies didn’t trade him at the trade deadline, though. Instead, Jaren Jackson Jr. was sent to the Utah Jazz.

The Grizzlies had also traded Desmond Bane in the offseason. Memphis now has somewhere between 11 and 13 future first-round draft picks. A new era has begun in Memphis. While Morant is still with the team for now, it still seems likely that he will be traded in the upcoming offseason.

Once viewed as a potential future face of the league, Morant’s trade value has  plummeted because of suspect defense, inefficient scoring, and constant butting heads with his team and teammates. Still, a team could take a chance on him, especially if he goes for much cheaper than his former teammates did in trade.

Morant is still an incredible athlete who can finish inside on, around, or over any defender. It seems unlikely that Morant and the Grizzlies can make amends, so if the off-the-court issues are in the past, somebody should buy low on the Murray State product.

Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets

Michael Porter Jr. has taken his game to new levels with the Brooklyn Nets. Previously more of a catch-and-shoot option with the Denver Nuggets, Porter has been given the ultimate green light this year with the Nets. He has rewarded the team by scoring 25 points per game.

While the Nets could certainly keep Porter as their top option going forward, it is possible that the team will leverage his increased production into an offseason trade. Brooklyn is still rebuilding and is a ways away from contending. They are obsessed with draft capital, considering they currently have five rookie first-rounders on their team and 12 future first-round selections coming their way.

Building around Porter seems like the logical conclusion. His shooting efficiency at 6-foot-10 allows him to fit on any roster/scheme, and he is still just 27 years old. Brooklyn’s desire for draft capital may persuade them to trade Porter in the offseason, though. After all, offseason trades involving big-name players have become commonplace for the Nets in recent years. They received a haul for Mikal Bridges not long ago in the offseason, and Porter was a part of an offseason trade involving Cam Johnson.

Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are all in on a short title window. The team’s roster was simply too expensive to maintain long-term, so they made a short-sided move to acquire James Harden. Sacrificing a much younger All-Star in the process hurt, but Harden likely does give the team a better shot to get into the NBA Finals this year than Darius Garland did.

In addition to the Harden trade, Cleveland sent De’Andre Hunter away in a trade deadline deal for Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder. They also moved on from Lonzo Ball. These moves helped the Cavaliers get their finances more in check, but they are still the lone second apron team in the NBA.

Jarrett Allen was already involved in trade rumors, and he has a big contract extension kicking in next year. If the Cavaliers are not crowned champions, they may end up looking a whole lot different next season. The consequences for repeating as a second apron team are harsh, and the Cavaliers’ hand may be forced into trading Allen. Luckily, Evan Mobley has looked more equipped this season to be a full-time center than ever before.

The post 5 stars who weren’t traded at 2026 NBA trade deadline who will definitely be moved in offseason appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Selected with the 50th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, Sanders’ rights were immediately traded to Los Angeles. The 6-foot-8, 207-pound guard played collegiately at Cal Poly before transferring to the Nevada Wolf Pack for his final season. During his four years at Cal Poly, he appeared in 100 games with 71 starts, recording a career-high 35 points and setting school records for free throws, including 17-for-17 in a single game against CSUN in December 2023.

In his senior season, Sanders averaged 19.6 points per game and earned All-Big West Honorable Mention honors. At Nevada, he averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game, highlighted by a game-winning three-pointer against VCU and 30-point and 27-point outings against Boise State and Wyoming, respectively. He was named third-team All-Mountain West before entering the 2025 NBA Draft.

In the NBA, the 23-year-old has appeared in 43 games this season, averaging 7.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 21.5 minutes per contest. His shooting splits are .448 from the field, .381 from three-point range, and .814 from the free-throw line, resulting in a 56.6% true shooting percentage. He contributes 0.6 steals and 0.1 blocks per game defensively. His consistent production made the promotion necessary, as two-way players are limited to a maximum of 50 NBA games, and Sanders was approaching that threshold while also being active for two additional games.

The move also resolves roster concerns for the Clippers, who had only 13 players on standard contracts and were nearing the limit for two-way player activity. With Sanders now on a standard deal and the expected addition of Dalano Banton on a 10-day contract, L.A. can fully utilize its roster flexibility. The Clippers currently sit 10th in the Western Conference with a 24–27 record.

With Sanders now a fixture in the rotation, the Los Angeles gain a versatile 6-foot-8 guard who can contribute on both ends of the floor.

The post Kobe Sanders lands standard contract with Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Collapse and revival

The Clippers’ 2025-26 campaign has been a tale of two extremes. It has been defined by a historically poor start and a mid-season resurgence that ultimately led to a radical roster overhaul. Entering their second year at the Intuit Dome as the oldest team in NBA history, the “veteran experiment” initially sputtered. That resulted in a dismal 5-16 start, including a 2-13 November that stood as the worst month in franchise history.

Age, injuries, and lack of transition defense plagued the roster early. Offensive possessions stagnated, perimeter containment collapsed, and the team struggled to keep pace with younger Western Conference opponents. At one point, the Clippers ranked near the bottom of the league in defensive rating and fast-break points allowed.

Then came the reversal.

In late December and throughout January, the Clippers rediscovered cohesion. They tallied 16 wins in 19 games. Kawhi Leonard elevated his two-way dominance, and James Harden orchestrated elite half-court offense. Ivica Zubac anchored the interior with career-best consistency. Suddenly, a team left for dead was climbing back into the play-in conversation.

Yet despite the momentum, internal evaluations told a different story.

Deadline pivot

As of early February, the Clippers sit at 24-27. They hold the 10th seed in a crowded Western Conference. The trade deadline marked a seismic shift, with the departures of franchise pillars Harden and Zubac in exchange for younger assets like Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin.

The philosophical pivot was clear. The Clippers wanted get younger, regain flexibility, and avoid long-term contractual gridlock.

Garland offered long-term playmaking upside. Mathurin brought wing scoring athleticism. Draft capital replenished a previously depleted asset cupboard.

From a macro perspective, the reset made sense.

From a competitive-timing perspective, it did not.

Because just as the Clippers found rhythm, they dismantled the engine driving it.

Calculated but incomplete reset

Writing about the Clippers’ deadline feels like mapping terrain after a localized earthquake. The franchise moved on from two-thirds of its veteran core, yet stopped short of a full teardown.

Harden was entering free agency seeking a long-term extension the front office hesitated to grant. Simultaneously, the organization faced off-court uncertainty tied to salary-cap scrutiny involving Leonard’s contract structure. President Lawrence Frank’s decision to pivot, though, has created imbalance.

Trade recap

The Harden move: Harden was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Garland and a 2026 second-round pick. This was an age reset at point guard prioritizing long-term upside over present orchestration.

The Zubac move: Zubac and Kobe Brown were dealt to Indiana for Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and multiple picks. These include a conditional 2026 first-rounder and a 2029 first.

The Chris Paul paper trade: Chris Paul, who has been away from the team since November, was officially rerouted to Toronto in a tax-driven maneuver designed to reset the repeater clock.

Individually logical. Collectively destabilizing.

Big mistake

Sure, the Harden deal can be defended as proactive succession planning. However, the decision to move Zubac is the trade that could haunt the Clippers immediately.

Zubac was in the midst of a career year. He was averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds while functioning as an All-Defensive-caliber interior anchor. He wasn’t just productive but foundational. Zubac cleaned the glass, deterred drives, and stabilized pick-and-roll coverage.

Replacing him with the athletic but raw Isaiah Jackson and leaning on a 37-year-old Brook Lopez represents a shift from reliability to volatility. That’s a dangerous downgrade in rim protection and defensive communication. The Clippers didn’t just trade a center. They traded their defensive spine.

High-variance gamble

The incoming 2026 first-round pick from Indiana comes wrapped in complex protections (1-4 and 10-30).

Translation: There’s a very real scenario where the pick either doesn’t convey this year or lands outside premium lottery value.

Trading a top-tier starting center for a pick that may not immediately materialize or deliver impact introduces significant risk. That’s especially true when Leonard’s championship window remains finite.

Future flexibility is valuable. That said, championship timelines don’t operate on deferred returns.

Chemistry vs. future assets

Perhaps the most understated cost of the Zubac trade is emotional and structural.

The Clippers had finally found rhythm. Defensive rotations were sharp. Offensive roles were defined. The locker room was aligned around a shared late-season push. By moving both Harden and Zubac, the franchise left Leonard as the lone pillar amid sweeping change.

Garland, though talented, is sidelined with a toe injury. Mathurin is still integrating into a playoff-chase environment. Jackson remains developmental. In one deadline cycle, continuity evaporated. The Clippers pivoted from chasing wins to evaluating futures-midseason.

Leonard timeline dilemma

Every Clippers decision ultimately orbits Leonard’s prime. Right now, Los Angeles remains within striking distance of postseason qualification. Leonard is still performing at an All-NBA level. The Western Conference middle tier remains volatile. Again, that makes the Zubac trade even more puzzling.

Instead of reinforcing Leonard’s defensive infrastructure, the Clippers diluted it. They bet on youth upside rather than present cohesion. In essence, they reset around a superstar still capable of winning now. That temporal mismatch defines the mistake.

Reset comes too soon

The Clippers didn’t err by getting younger. They erred in when and how they chose to do it.

Trading James Harden was forward-thinking. Trading Ivica Zubac mid-resurgence was destabilizing. It stripped the team of defensive certainty, locker-room continuity, and postseason readiness in one stroke.

Los Angeles may ultimately benefit from the assets acquired. For the remainder of the 2025-26 season, though, the cost is immediate. They will chase the playoffs without their defensive anchor. In all, Los Angeles remains caught between contending and recalibrating without fully committing to either.

The post Clippers’ biggest 2026 NBA trade deadline mistake appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Harden and Zubac’s chemistry and production during the 2024-25 season was the lifeblood of the Clippers’ 50-win campaign. And now, those two are set to duke it out in the Eastern Conference, with Harden looking to compete for a title as soon as this season with the rejuvenated Cavs.

Considering the Clippers’ present circumstances, a reset was coming either way. Harden and Kawhi Leonard were trending towards the older side, with the former being in his mid to late 30s. Their 6-21 start to the season suggested that there was little room for error for the Clippers, and that a hot run of play spanning a month isn’t enough to change their outlook for the next few seasons.

But did the Clippers do well in the trades that they made? Here are grades for each of LA’s trades before giving them an overall grade for how they did for the entire trade deadline.

Clippers exchange veteran floor general for oft-injured 26-year-old star

Clippers acquire: Darius Garland, 2026 second-round pick

Cavs acquire: James Harden

It was in the middle of the Clippers’ tussle against the Phoenix Suns this past week when the stunning news of the developing trade between LA and Cleveland came to light. The timing of everything seemed rather odd; why would Harden request a trade now that the Clippers have been playing better basketball?

Harden later denied requesting a trade, but there’s no doubt that he had a hand in him landing with the Cavs — a perfect situation for him. He doesn’t have to carry as heavy of a workload for the Cavs, which could conceivably leave him fresher for the playoffs.

As for the Clippers, the initial rumor was that the Cavs were asking for a future first-round pick to agree to the point guard swap. This was rather preposterous; Harden, despite being 36 years of age, is still averaging 25 and eight a night. He’s been more productive and healthier than Garland has been this season.

LA has well-documented future draft pick issues. They still owe their 2026 and 2028 picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively. They owe pick swaps to the same teams in 2027 and 2029 (respectively as well). They can only trade their 2031 and 2032 firsts, and doing so would be malpractice for a team that doesn’t have the brightest of outlooks.

Not having to fork over a future first changes the equation so much for the Clippers. Not only did they get younger at the point, with Garland being only 26 years of age, they also received a future second-round pick. LA has hit on second-round picks in recent years, with the likes of Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller giving the team quality minutes in recent years. Perhaps they could pull something magical once more.

Now, the Clippers have to play the waiting game with Garland. He’s missed plenty of time this season with toe issues that date back to last season. With LA looking to make it to the playoffs, getting Garland back should help keep the team humming.

Moreover, Garland’s arrival means that the Clippers have one extra large contract on the books for the 2027-28 season. LA’s reported goal was to clear out cap space for the 2027 offseason, and Garland being on the books may complicate matters for them when the time comes.

But Garland helps keep the Clippers afloat. He is a two-time All-Star who will now have the keys to the offense, unlike in Cleveland when he had to share the ball with Donovan Mitchell a lot of times. He’s the undisputed floor general, and him being 26 years of age makes him well worth the benefit of the doubt, health-wise.

It’s always difficult to part ways with someone averaging 25 and eight. But acquiring Garland sets the Clippers up for a much better future than if Harden simply bolted in free agency, leaving LA with nothing.

Grade: A-

LA gets Ivica Zubac trade offer they cannot refuse

Clippers acquire: Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, 2026 IND first-round pick (protected for selections 1-4, 10-30, conveys to 2031 otherwise), unprotected 2029 IND first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick

Pacers acquire: Ivica Zubac, Kobe Brown

From a stocks point of reference, the Clippers won big time. Imagine parlaying Michael Beasley and Mike Muscala into the package that Zubac brought back. Zubac has become one of the best and most reliable starting centers in the association, and the Pacers, a team looking to restore itself as a legitimate contender after a down 2025-26 season, are betting that he’s the missing piece they need to get over the hump.

The Clippers exacted quite a heavy price from the Pacers, and no one can ever fault LA for giving up Zubac, who is on one of the best contracts in the NBA, for the godfather offer Indiana put together.

For starters, getting a potential top-five pick in the upcoming draft is crazy value for the Clippers. As tantalizing as the top-four of the 2026 NBA Draft may be, there is bound to be a keeper somewhere in the top 10 not named Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, and Caleb Wilson.

The Pacers think otherwise, but the Clippers took a wise gamble in hoping that Indy’s pick lands in the top five. This could even make them players on the trade market if they decide that going for a more established player is better over gambling on a prospect.

Even if the 2026 first-rounder doesn’t convey, the Clippers still win; who knows how the Pacers are and what their roster looks like in 2031? That is five years from now. Five years ago, the Pacers were dreadful — which put them in position to draft Mathurin in the first place.

Mathurin’s career has not taken off the way the Pacers had hoped. He was an X-factor during their playoff run last year, providing incredible scoring in spurts and he played with the edge that every winning team needs. However, he’s always going to be stuck on a bench role for the Pacers as long as Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith are on the roster. And he will be up for a huge contract extension soon.

Considering how the Clippers need every young talent they can get, Mathurin could blossom in more of a featured role. He’ll be the third scoring option at worst in LA when everyone is healthy, and LA knows how to pair two high-scoring wings together if the combo of Leonard and Paul George is any indication.

Having to pay Mathurin is not the worst thing in the world; he can end up being a tradeable contract for when the Clippers decide to pivot.

Suffice to say, this was a trade that the Clippers had to make, sentimentality over Zubac be damned.

Grade: A+

Clips get off the Chris Paul train at last

Clippers acquire: Rights to Vanja Mariknovic

Raptors acquire: Chris Paul

Nets acquire: Ochai Agbaji, 2032 second-round pick

The Clippers jettisoning Paul was a long time coming. For them to get nothing is quite hilarious, however. It’s hard to rag LA for this pitiful return considering how unceremonious CP3’s time with the team ended, but this is still a sad way for one of the franchise’s greatest players to go.

Grade: C

Clippers’ overall trade deadline grade: A-

The post Clippers 2026 NBA trade deadline grade after 3 deals appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Zubac would take to social media after the deal was made official, which saw Los Angeles get Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2026 protected first-round pick, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick, and a future second-round pick. As he’s been with the Clippers since the 2018-19 season, he took to Instagram to express how “this is one of the toughest moments in my life.”

“Exactly 7 years ago, this team gave me a chance, and I never imagined it would work out this way,” Zubac wrote. “They allowed me to grow as a player and a man. Just wanna say thank you. Especially to the fans. From the moment I put on this jersey, you guys showed me love and support, on good nights and bad nights, never turned your back on me. That meant everything, and it was the reason I had such pride representing this jersey.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ivica Zubac (@ivicazubac)

Ivica Zubac continues emotional message to the Clippers

While the Clippers are retooling, there’s no doubt that Zubac brought constant production this season. He had been averaging 14.4 points and 11 rebounds per game. Zubac would thank many of the people “behind the scenes” with the franchise, as he ended by showing love for owner Steve Ballmer.

“Loved being part of the Clippers family,” Zubac wrote. “Steve and [the] front office thank you guys for trusting me and giving me a chance, year after year. I leave with nothing but love, gratitude, and respect for this organization and all you guys. From top to bottom. I’ll never forget these 7 years and [the] love I got here. Always love.”

At any rate, Zubac looks to bring that same production to Indiana as Los Angeles looks to improve for the future.

The post Ivica Zubac pens heartfelt goodbye to the Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

McCain returned to the Thunder practice facility for the first time since his draft workout on Friday. During his first media availability since his move, a reporter asked whether he first learned about Wednesday’s trade from the 76ers before it was announced, per The Oklahoman’s Justin Martinez.

“No, not at all,” McCain said. “We were all on the bus to the airport, and I just got a call. I had no feeling. I didn’t think it was going to happen, to be honest. There was nothing, and I got the call, and just went and told everybody. I went to Tyrese [Maxey] first, and it was pretty emotional.”

For McCain, it’s been an emotional transition from the 76ers to the Thunder. However, he’s confident that processing the trade won’t take long, and he’ll make his Thunder debut.

“I allow myself to feel all the emotions. It’s natural. Give myself grace through this process,” McCain added. “But you move quick. I touched down in LA and then had to come straight here. It’s a little bit of both. It’s a balance you’ve got to work through. I’m definitely still going through it, and still trying to cope with it.”

Here’s Jared McCain speaking to the media for the first time as a Thunder player pic.twitter.com/NC1yu5xJoC

— Justin Martinez (@Justintohoops) February 6, 2026

Daigneault says he’s unsure if McCain will make his Thunder debut in Saturday’s matinee against the Rockets.

Jared McCain’s positive approach to Thunder tenure

The Thunder acquired Jared McCain for four draft picks, including a 2026 first-round pick, and three future second-round picks that are headed to the 76ers between now and 2028. Amid an injury-riddled sophomore season, with most of his setbacks in the rearview mirror ahead of his first game as a member of the Thunder, McCain says he’s gone through many obstacles in his first two NBA seasons, but wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

“I’ve had a lot of experience in a small amount of time,” McCain said. “I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I’ve gone through the highs and lows. And there’s going to be more to come. Just trying to stay even and trying to stick with it. Stick with it. Just continue to work hard, and just know that it’s all going to come together. I would summarize, I think it’s been amazing. My life is amazing. I get to play basketball and get paid to do it.

“So, I try to keep that in perspective at all times when there’s obviously little things that are going to happen that definitely could mess up that. You just gotta stay even and try to talk with your family, talk with the people around you that you care most about,” McCain concluded.

McCain says he and 76ers GM Daryl Morey “didn’t talk much at all” when he received the phone call about his trade. The Thunder will host the Rockets on Saturday.

The post Thunder’s Jared McCain feeling ‘all emotions’ after 76ers trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Some have already assumed that the Clippers are giving up on this season, while others think that making these moves has something to do with the Kawhi Leonard and Steve Ballmer chaos that went on before the season started.

That’s the conversation that Gil’s Arena had when discussing the moves the Clippers made, but Nick Young had a different take about everything.

“The Clippers are gonna be nice, y’all tripping,” Young said. “They got [Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin], and [Kawhi Leonard]? That’s better than the s— they had.”

“The Clippers are gonna be nice, y’all tripping. They got [Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin], and [Kawhi Leonard]? That’s better than the sh*t they had.”

Nick Young on the new look Clippers

(via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/GTKXsv5Xcv

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 6, 2026

It’s hard to tell if the team that the Clippers have now is better than when they had Harden and Zubac. Both players were huge contributors to the Clippers over the past few seasons, and the reason why they were in the playoffs.

Garland and Mathurin are good players, but they may not have the same impact as those two players. At the same time, the Clippers have to hope that Leonard is healthy, because one injury and they may be in trouble. If the Clippers can build chemistry throughout this season, there’s a good chance they can find themselves in the Play-In and an opportunity to make the playoffs.

The teams below them don’t have much of a chance of making up ground, so they should be safe in the spot they’re in. Anything can happen, so it will be important for them to keep winning for the remainder of the season.

The post Nick Young grabs attention with bold Clippers prediction after trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Domantas Sabonis injury status vs. Clippers

Given that Domantas Sabonis is questionable on the injury report, it’s hard to predict whether he’ll be playing tonight vs. the Clippers. Sabonis has been the subject of trade rumors this season, linked to the Toronto Raptors, who are reportedly still a possibility in the offseason.

The Kings will look to snap a 10-game losing streak on Friday. After rattling off four consecutive wins, the Kings haven’t won a game since January 16’s 128-115 victory against the Washington Wizards, which capped off a four-game win streak.

Amidst an injury-plagued campaign due to a lingering back injury, Sabonis is averaging 15.8 points on 54.3% shooting, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 19 games this season. While the Kings will continue to rebuild their roster, which included trading Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis, and Dario Saric in a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavs and the Atlanta Hawks.

The Kings acquired last year’s sixth man of the year candidate in De’Andre Hunter from the Cavs, while sending Ellis and Schroder to the Cavs, and Saric to the Bulls. At the same time, Sabonis continues his recovery from a back injury.

However, as for the question of whether Domantas Sabonis is playing tonight vs. the Clippers, the answer is maybe.

Kings injury report

Keegan Murray — Out — Left ankle sprain

Domantas Sabonis — Questionable — Lower back soreness

Clippers injury report

Bradley Beal — Out — Left hip fracture

Darius Garland — Out — Trade pending

Bennedict Mathurin — Out — Trade pending

The post Kings’ Domantas Sabonis on injury report vs. Clippers after not getting traded appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As for the Clippers, it’s obvious that they were looking to get younger, even though they had turned their season around over the past month. Harden’s representatives gauged who would have interest in the Clippers’ guard, and one of the teams was one of his former stops, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

“Harden was interested in reuniting with the Houston Rockets, sources say, a natural fit because their point guard, Fred VanVleet, had torn his ACL before the season. But the Rockets showed little interest in their former MVP,” Shelburne wrote. “Cleveland did, however. The Cavaliers were intrigued to see how Harden could elevate their two standout big men, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and take some of the load off dynamic shooting guard Donovan Mitchell.”

If Harden was traded to the Rockets, that may have been the move that helped them, as they lack real guard depth, especially with the VanVleet injury. The only problem is who the Rockets would have had to give up in that situation, and the Clippers were definitely going to ask for several of their young players.

That move would have probably gutted most of their roster, and the Rockets already didn’t want to do that when they traded for Kevin Durant in the offseason.

So far this season, the Rockets have been able to manage without much guard depth, and Amen Thompson has filled in that role. He’s not the typical traditional guard, but he’s getting help from Alperen Sengun and Durant as well. Reed Sheppard has also stepped up in his second season in the league.

It would have been an interesting reunion for Harden and the Rockets if it happened.

The post James Harden eyed Rockets return amid Clippers trade talks appeared first on ClutchPoints.

ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst asked the question during ESPN’s NBA Trade Deadline coverage about what will happen with Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers have had a roller coaster of a season so far, starting poorly, then going on a hot streak, before it came out of nowhere that Harden wanted a trade. The Harden trade then made them look elsewhere, and that’s where the Zubac trade came from, too.

Windhorst said, “The Clippers appear to be in a significant retooling. I’ll step away from saying rebuilding, but it sure looks like a rebuild to me when you trade for draft picks like this. Harden and Zubac. And so that begs the question, What about Kawhi Leonard? What about Kawhi Leonard? Okay, he may not be going in the next 36 minutes, but is this a precursor to looking at whether a Kawhi Leonard trade is coming this summer?”

Leonard has been with the Clippers since 2019 after joining as part of a tandem with Paul George. The team eventually added Harden to the mix to create a “Big 3,” but they lasted just one season together before George bolted to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2024. With Harden being traded to the Cavaliers, Leonard is the only star left from that initial signing.

After missing time earlier in the year, Leonard has returned to the court and re-established himself as one of the best two-way players in the league. In his 36 appearances this season, he’s averaging 27.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals.

The Clippers are 23-27 and currently the ninth seed in the Western Conference. Now, after these moves, it’s unclear what will happen with the Clippers moving forward.

The post Brian Windhorst raises Kawhi Leonard question amid Clippers retooling appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Following Indiana’s trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for center Ivica Zubac, Haliburton shared a heartfelt message on Instagram directed at Bennedict Mathurin, who was sent out as part of the deal. Haliburton posted a photo of the two dapping each other up, captioned, “My Brother. Go be great 00,” accompanied by a fingers-crossed emoji and a yellow heart.

The Pacers acquired Zubac and Kobe Brown from Los Angeles in exchange for Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick and a future second-round pick. The trade addressed a long-standing need in the middle following last summer’s departure of Myles Turner, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks after Indiana’s run to the NBA Finals.

Mathurin, 23, was selected sixth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and had been enjoying a career season in his fourth year with the Pacers. He is averaging 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from 3-point range and 88.4 percent from the free-throw line across 28 games, including 24 starts. He logged 31.8 minutes per contest and was a key part of Indiana’s wing rotation.

Tyrese Haliburton via IG pic.twitter.com/bizZxH5rLu

— The Indy Pacer (@TheIndyPacer) February 5, 2026

Bennedict Mathurin joins Clippers as Pacers reset around Tyrese Haliburton

Mathurin now joins a Clippers team that sits ninth in the Western Conference standings at 23-27. He steps into a roster led by Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland, who was recently acquired in a separate deal that sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Los Angeles begins a four-game road trip Friday night against the Sacramento Kings at 10 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

For Indiana, the move reflects a continued push to recalibrate after a remarkable stretch of postseason success. The Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2024 and followed that up with an NBA Finals appearance last season, ultimately falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. That run came at a cost, as Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the Finals and continues his recovery.

Indiana enters the next phase of the season at 13-38 and opens a six-game road trip Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks at 8 p.m. ET. Zubac is expected to anchor the frontcourt as the Pacers stabilize their rotation while Haliburton works toward a return.

Haliburton’s message underscored the human side of a deadline defined by major decisions. As Indiana turns the page with Zubac in the middle and Mathurin beginning a new chapter in Los Angeles, the Pacers continue balancing immediate needs with the long-term vision shaped by their recent postseason runs.

The post Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shares immediate reaction to Bennedict Mathurin trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Zubac has been the subject of trade rumors for weeks ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. Arguably one of the most sought-after centers in the association this season, Zubac is in the first year of a three-year, $58.6 million contract. The Pacers have their starting center for the future, with him on the cusp of his prime.

He’s averaged a double-double (14.4 points, 11.0 rebounds) this season. Zubac is fifth in the NBA in rebounds per game, and his 61.3% field-goal percentage is ranked sixth among centers. Zubac also earned All-Defensive Second Team honors last season, and is on pace of making another All-Defensive team at the end of this season.

Jackson recovered from a right Achilles injury in 2024-25. He’s averaged 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds in 16.8 minutes this season. Mathurin, in his fourth year, is averaging career highs across the board this season, including points (17.8), rebounds (5.4), and assists (2.3) per game, with 43.3/37.2/88.4 percent shooting splits.

Grading Clippers’ trade with Pacers

In an attempt to maximize their return for James Harden, the Clippers received an All-Star guard in Darius Garland and a future second-round pick from the Cavs. As the oldest team in the NBA, future draft picks are at a premium for the Clippers, who replenished their assets in a four-player deal with the Pacers.

However, if the Pacers’ 2026 first-round pick falls outside of the 1-4 or 10-30 range in this year’s draft, it converts to a 2031 unprotected first, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Pacers receive: Ivica Zubac, Kobe Brown

Clippers receive: Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected (1-4/10-30 range) 2026 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick, and a future second-round pick 

While the Clippers gave up their best defensive player in Ivica Zubac, Bennedict Mathurin, 23, gives them an efficient shooter with plenty of upside for a fourth-year guard who’s still under 25. He’s also on an expiring deal, which isn’t ideal for the Clippers. But re-signing him is a must this summer as Mathurin is projected to be a 20+ point scorer, and one of the more reliable 3-point shooters.

Mathurin, who’s making $9.1 million this season, will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Clippers can match any other team’s offers via free agency. For a team bombarded with an unexpected trade request only days before Thursday’s deadline, adding Mathurin is probably as good a replacement as you’re going to get for an aging 36-year-old star.

The NBA is as young as it’s ever been, and Mathurin is an ideal player to invest in as a proven 17+ point scorer to complement the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, John Collins, and Derrick Jones Jr. this season, and beyond. He’s also evolving into a capable on-ball defender who can hold his own against the pick-and-roll.

Final Clippers trade grade

For a team that’s turned its season around from a 6-21 start to a 17-6 record over its last 23 games, the Clippers will look to build off that momentum and finish the regular season on a high note amidst a postseason push. However, their trade with the Pacers at the deadline addresses their future more than anything.

Bennedict Mathurin will undoubtedly make his presence felt this season. However, the Clippers’ defense, which is in the bottom half of the NBA with a 117.2 defensive rating, just lost its anchor in Ivica Zubac. While Isaiah Jackson is a productive defender at the power forward position, he is a role player at best.

It’s difficult to grade the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac deal for Mathurin, Jackson, and future draft picks without considering the return for James Harden. And while Darius Garland, who hasn’t played since January 14, recovers from a toe injury, Mathurin will be one of the Clippers’ go-to options on offense. All while the Clippers hope to stay afloat in a competitive Western Conference.

However, grading one trade based on a trade from days earlier is never ideal. The Clippers parting ways with a future Hall of Fame scorer in Harden shouldn’t be meshed with the team losing their best defender in the frontcourt. Only time will tell if Mathurin will evolve into an All-Star talent for the Clippers, and if the Pacers’ 2026 first-round pick will fall in between selections 5-9 — which are two factors that would bump this trade up by a whole letter-grade.

Clippers trade grade: C

Final Pacers trade grade

After their first Finals appearance in 25 years, the Pacers’ second in franchise history, the Pacers watched Tyrese Haliburton suffer a ruptured Achilles against the Thunder in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Then, Myles Turner, one of the Pacers’ pillars alongside All-Star Pascal Siakam, agreed to a four-year, $108.8 million deal with the Bucks.

When you put the Pacers’ franchise situation into perspective, coupled with the Clippers’ history of trading future first-round picks, it’s easier to understand why the Pacers overpaid for Ivica Zubac hours before the trade deadline. Considering the market, Zubac is as good a replacement as they were going to get for Turner.

Now, the Pacers, with the third-worst record in the NBA this season, are in a position to compete at a high level in 2026-27. This is a playoff team when Haliburton returns, one that could inch toward the Eastern Conference’s upper echelon of teams next season, depending on how the Pacers approach the offseason.

So far, they’re off to an impressive start. Zubac is going to thrive with the Pacers in the East, as the All-Defensive center will undoubtedly reach his first All-Star selection now that he’s left the Western Conference. He’s also entering his prime years, as Zubac turns 29 in March.

Pacers trade grade: B+

The post Ivica Zubac trade grades for Pacers, Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Along with trading Zubac to the Pacers, Los Angeles is also sending Kobe Brown to Indiana. In exchange for their starting center, the Clippers will be receiving Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first-round pick, an unprotected 2029 first-round pick, and a future second-round pick in 2028, sources said.

Although the Pacers traded their 2026 first-round pick in this trade, it comes with major caveats and protections.

Should this pick fall in the 1-4 or the 10-30 range of the 2026 NBA Draft, Indiana will retain this pick and instead ship a 2031 unprotected first-round pick to the Clippers. Either way, the Clippers got exactly what they wanted in two unprotected first-round picks and young talent in the form of Mathurin and Jackson.

ESPN was first to report the trade between Indiana and Los Angeles.

The Pacers had been one of the most aggressive teams on the trade market in recent days, searching for their center of the future. Zubac has been at the top of their list, and while the Clippers have held a strong asking price for him, the Pacers have met that price in the final hour before Thursday’s deadline.

After trading James Harden for Darius Garland and clearly taking a step back after their recent surge over the last month, the Clippers turned their attention to capitalizing on Zubac’s high value now. Los Angeles owned very little draft capital entering the trade deadline week, and they have now regained a lot of lost value from investing in previous trades.

As the Pacers turn their attention to the future, they will immediately re-enter the championship equation in the Eastern Conference with Zubac as their starting center and Tyrese Haliburton returning from his Achilles injury.

In 43 games this season, Zubac has averaged 14.4 points and 11.0 rebounds per game while shooting 61.3 percent from the floor.

For the Clippers, this trade signals the end of an era that did not progress the way executive Lawrence Frank and owner Steve Ballmer had envisioned. Both Harden and Zubac have now been traded before the deadline, leaving Kawhi Leonard with Garland and what appears to be a roster that will be rehauled in the summer.

Leonard will be entering the final year of his contract and will make $50.3 million during the 2026-27 season.

Mathurin and Jackson enter a situation where they will receive clear roles and playing time as the future of this franchise alongside Garland. In the final year of his contract, Mathurin will be a restricted free agent for the Clippers this offseason.

This season with the Pacers, Mathurin averaged 17.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the floor and 37.2 percent from 3-point range in 28 games.

The Clippers are currently 23-27 and are fighting for position in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament region of the standings. Their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft will go to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The post Clippers trade Ivica Zubac to Pacers after James Harden-Darius Garland swap appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“We were out there, I talked to him, came in here, we talked to him. That’s still our brother,” Mitchell said postgame on Wednesday. “This is just the business side of it. We dealt with it last year with Caris and Georges and now DG, but it’s bigger than just basketball. This is the brotherhood.

“For him to be able to watch us, for him to be able to come out there and talk to us and chop it up speaks to the connectivity we had here. That’s a guy who will forever be our brother.”

To a man, Cleveland’s roster, from players to coaches, walked over to send best wishes to Garland, his family, and his circle.

Great moment after @cavs win in LA as all of Darius Garland’s buddies say goodbye. Classy. good luck 10. pic.twitter.com/7jgm25xOnd

— Chris Rose (@ChrisRose) February 5, 2026

“I have the utmost respect for all of those guys over there in that organization,” Garland said at his introductory press conference with the Clippers. “I’ve got a lot of love for everybody over there. But basketball is a business, and that’s part of it.

“Seven years was a really long time, and it was great, and I’m glad I’m here now. It’s a new journey, the next chapter in my book. See where it’s going to take me.”

Following Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman’s statement on Wednesday, team chairman Dan Gilbert offered a similar parting message on X.

“Seven years ago, a young leader arrived in Cleveland,” Gilbert posted. “Since then, [Garland] grew into a two-time All-Star and a cornerstone of the [Cavs] return to relevance. His heart, growth, and leadership gave this city unforgettable moments that will always matter. Thank you, Darius. Best of luck to you in the rest of your career in this league.”

“Took a leap of faith drafting me fifth over five games of college basketball,” Garland said. “They really took a leap of faith drafting me, so I really appreciate them for everything. Cleveland was great to me and my family.”

In just one-and-a-half years with him, Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson already considers Garland “one of my favorites ever.”

“I’m a point guard at heart. A little point guard at heart,” Atkinson explained. “So you have an affinity for those guys. We had a special connection. I really respected how he played the game as a pure point guard who could get you 30 on a given night. Loved his passing. And I loved the person.

“We just clicked. You click with certain players; we clicked right away. I’ll never forget last season. You could argue he was the guy, end of games, that was taking over for us and winning. He won a ton of games for us, was an All-Star. I just will always be close to him.”

On the bus ride over to the arena, Atkinson knew that it would be weird. When the ball was tipped, the competition began, and the Cavs handled their business. Then, postgame, that strange feeling came back.

“I still have emotions. I’m still attached to the person and the player,” Atkinson said after Cleveland’s blowout victory. “I just saw him in the hallway as I came to the press conference. That’s the part I don’t feel great about. You can’t. I love that we’re getting James Harden. We made some tweaks, and we’re trying to get better, but I have a soft spot in my heart for him. Love him as a player, love him as a person. I hope I get to coach him again at some point.”

“It’s been a lot,” Mitchell said. “It’s felt like we haven’t played like forever, to be honest. It’s just so much that’s gone on. For us as a group, the fact that we came out here and did what we did was impressive.”

Darius Garland, Cavs have no hard feelings

Each side ultimately understands that going their separate ways isn’t personal.

“This is nothing against a DG or a Dre [Hunter] or nothing like that; this is just part of it,” said Mitchell, who is thrilled for Garland to work with Ty Lue and Kawhi Leonard’s championship pedigree. “Sometimes the front office makes moves, and now it’s on us to execute. We weren’t able to get it done for the past three years, and now our goal is to try to get it done now. That’s the biggest goal. I think everybody in this locker room understands that.

“I have no doubt what he’ll bring here to LA; it’s gonna be really positive. This is bigger than just basketball. I have no doubt he’ll have a lot of success here. People don’t notice him ’cause they don’t watch Cleveland as much, but that progression, even before I got here, that just shows the level that he is [at]. He’ll do a lot of big things here. Clipper Nation should be excited.”

Of course, Atkinson shares the same sentiment about Garland.

“He pushes the pace. He sets the pace. He sets the tone on how your group gets to offense. He’s really a pure point guard,” Atkinson said. “I’m sure that’s what Ty loves about him. He’s really a way underrated passer. He’s in the lane all the time, can pass with both hands, knows how to feed bigs. Obviously, you’ve got Kawhi here, but he’ll be the head of the snake in terms of pure point guard play.

Admitting that he knew a trade was coming, Garland isn’t shocked over it. Still, this is the first time he’s gone through the process.

“Last 48 hours has been crazy,” Garland said. “The trade happened, and I was already here, so it wasn’t that big of a move. It was pretty easy for me. Just switched hotels, basically (laughs). That was pretty easy. Getting to the facility, coming to the arena, being around everybody, meeting new faces, meeting new people, it’s super cool. I few like the new kid at school, so just try to get acclimated and get kinda comfortable.

“Just getting to know everybody. Seeing some of my guys here that I see a lot during the workouts during the summertime, just being here, having my time here. So I’m super excited [about] being here, super excited about being with the team. It’s a beautiful arena. New energy, new crowd. I’m super excited.”

Garland turns the page on his Cavs days with the respect and admiration of everybody in the organization.

“My relationship with Darius, it’s kind of a tough day,” Atkinson said. “But the positive is he’s coming to the Clippers, and he’s gonna be with Ty. So I expect him to be great here, and I’m rooting for him. Got a great coaching staff, darn good organization. He’s gonna be in a really good place here.”

“They said, statistically, he was the worst basketball player in the NBA [as a rookie] — statistically,” Mitchell added, ensuring his words don’t get twisted. “To go from that to being an All-Star… He comes into the league not playing many college games because he got hurt. You get thrown into the league in a situation that’s not necessarily a winning situation. For the mental for him to come in and now he turns into a two-time All-Star, turns into a guy who’s averaging 20 and 8, that speaks to him. He’s gonna do phenomenal things here.”

The post Donovan Mitchell, Cavs close chapter with Darius Garland: ‘Forever our brother’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Clippers’ trade came as a surprise: with LA starting to win games just before the deadline, it seemed like the team would either be buyers or stand pat. As it stands, it looks like the Clippers are trying to do a fire sale. Jake Fischer reports that Los Angeles is still looking to move center Ivica Zubac, with the Indiana Pacers being the leading contender for the star big man.

“Sources: After trading James Harden to Cleveland earlier this week, the Clippers have still been receiving calls on starting center Ivica Zubac, with the Indiana Pacers prime among his suitors,” Jake Fischer reports.

The Pacers have been quiet this trade deadline. While other teams have been making a ton of moves, Indiana has seemingly stayed pat. However, that doesn’t mean that they haven’t been trying to get a player at the deadline. There are recent reports that link the Pacers to Jarrett Allen. Since losing Myles Turner this offseason, Indiana has been looking for an option to replace him in the middle. Allen and Zubac are two players who could fit that mold, with the Clippers center being an intriguing option.

The Clippers are also now free to pursue trades for their other stars. It was reported a few weeks ago that LA’s primary focus was dealing Chris Paul. With Paul now off the team officially and Harden traded, it opens up the door for the team to hunt for a suitor for Zubac. That being said, the reported asking price of the Clippers for Zubac is a bit pricey.

The Clippers

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After a lopsided 124-91 loss to the Cavaliers on Wednesday, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue quickly addressed the move and said the team will be playing a “different style” going forward.

He spoke about the blockbuster trade of Harden during his postgame press conference at Intuit Dome. While discussing life after the deal, he shifted focus to Kawhi Leonard moving forward.

“With James [Harden] gone we got to play a different style of basketball and our younger guys they gotta understand… they should never be holding the basketball. Lue explained. “There’s only one guy that should be holding the ball is Kawhi [Leonard].”

"With James [Harden] gone we got to play a different style of basketball and our younger guys they gotta understand… they should never be holding the basketball. There's only one guy that should be holding the ball is Kawhi [Leonard].”

– Ty Lue
pic.twitter.com/CrgHk3MZ77

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 5, 2026

Because of his contract, Harden effectively controlled where he could be traded. Over the past few days, he and the Clippers worked together to find an exit that made sense for both sides.

The move gives Harden a chance to compete for a championship while he is still playing at a high level at age 36, while Los Angeles brings in two-time All-Star Garland, who at 26 can contribute right away and remain an important piece moving forward.

Harden is in his 17th NBA season and will be joining his sixth team since being selected third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 draft. He spent the past three seasons with the Clippers, averaging 21.1 points, 8.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.

This season, Harden is averaging 25.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds across 44 games. He continues to play at a high level as he joins a Cavaliers team that currently sits fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 31-21 record.

The Clippers, now 23-27, turn the page to a new chapter as they prepare for Friday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings, their next test in the post-Harden era.

The post Clippers’ Tyronn Lue details ‘different style’ team must play after James Harden trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

It is the latest chapter in Harden’s long journey, as he continues to chase his first-ever championship.

It was an amicable separation between Harden and the Clippers, with both sides working together to find a suitable deal. The Clippers got Darius Garland and a second-round pick in exchange for the 36-year-old guard.

On Wednesday, Harden expressed his gratitude to the Clippers via a post on X.

“Thank you, Steve Ballmer, L-Frank (Lawrence Frank), and the entire Clippers organization. Two and a half years ago, you welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to be the best version of myself. To say I’m grateful is an understatement,” wrote Harden.

“I’ll forever consider myself a Clipper.”

@LAClippers pic.twitter.com/V95XARxcLJ

— James Harden (@JHarden13) February 5, 2026

Los Angeles acquired Harden in 2023 in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, forming a big three with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

The one-time MVP, however, did not really find success in Los Angeles, suffering back-to-back first-round exits in the playoffs.

Harden averaged 21.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in 195 games with the Clippers. ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly reported that Harden wanted a two-year extension worth $80 million, but the front office refused.

The 11-time All-Star has been traded four times in the last six seasons. He will team up with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen in trying to lead the Cavaliers into a deep run in the playoffs.

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On Wednesday, Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank spoke on the trade and James Harden’s time with the Clippers, via ClutchPoints reporter Tomer Azarly.

“I can’t overstate what James has meant to our organization in the past two-and-a-half years. He exceeded every expectation and met every challenge. He put us on his back for long stretches, doing whatever was necessary to win. He’s an all-time great who delivers on a nightly basis. We benefited from his talent, his durability, his competitiveness and his leadership. We’ll always consider him a Clipper.”

Frank also talked about his new star point guard.

“We are trying to get younger while continuing to win, and Darius allows us to do both. He is a two-time All-Star who just turned 26 and a highly skilled point guard with excellent feel.

Darius is an adept shooter and passer, a quick decision-maker and a respected teammate who has shown the ability to run an elite offense. We are excited to win with him and grow with him.”

Garland and Leonard have the ability to be one of the best duos in the league. The Clippers are going to remain a threat in the West as long as Leonard is healthy and Garland is around. Harden is 10 years older than Garland, so the Clippers’ future now looks much brighter.

The post Clippers President Lawrence Frank breaks silence on James Harden, Darius Garland trade appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“Dear Cleveland, I’ll never forget the night I was drafted to Cleveland back in 2019 and everything I’ve gained since,” Garland wrote. “This city taught me more than I could’ve imagined. To the coaches, staff, front office, the Gilbert family, my teammates, and the fans — thank you for the love and support. Cleveland will always be a second home, and I’ll carry these memories with me forever. – Always Love, 10.”

CLEVELAND, Thank You! pic.twitter.com/gvstuNK3pw

— Darius Garland (@dariusgarland22) February 4, 2026

Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman released a statement soon after Garland’s.

“We deeply appreciate what Darius Garland has meant to this franchise and the city of Cleveland,” Altman said. “Over the past seven seasons, Darius grew into an All-Star, a leader, and the heartbeat of our team. This decision was not made lightly, as Darius consistently represented the Cavaliers and our community with grace and joy that resonated with his teammates and our fans, both at Rocket Arena and across the NBA.

“We are incredibly grateful for everything he has given this organization. The difficulty of this trade reflects the utmost respect we have for him, and we wish him nothing but success as he begins the next chapter of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers.”

Garland is now set to join a Clippers squad that his father, Winston, played for in 1990-91. He is reportedly expected to return to the floor after the NBA All-Star break, as he continues to recover from a right great toe sprain. Prior to that injury, Garland had been rounding into form, getting his feet wet, and feeling healthier from the same setback on the left toe he had surgery on and reaggravated at different points this season.

Meanwhile, the Cavs have moved on from Garland and the Core Four era, which reached its peak last season at 64-18 as the top seed in the league. Cleveland went to the playoffs the last three years and made the Play-In Tournament the season before that.

In his seven-and-a-half seasons with Cleveland, Garland averaged 18.8 points, 6.7 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 33.1 minutes per game in 408 total appearances. He shot 45.3% from the field, including a 38.6% clip from distance and an 86.7% hit rate at the free-throw line.

Garland, who was the longest-tenured Cavalier, leaves as the third-best three-point shooter in franchise history (956 makes), behind LeBron James and Kevin Love. He has the third-most total assists (2,738) behind LeBron and Mark Price, and is top-10 in the record books in field-goals made (2,805), and points scored (7,671).

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