Harden has been unable to stay at the Clippers for 120 million in three years! Leonard has become a burden with 50 million. Where should the Clippers go?

The Thunder swept the Timberwolves 4-1 to enter the finals, and Alexander was only one championship away from the Grand Slam; but what made fans sigh the most was the Clippers - this team that was highly expected to "win the championship" fell in the first round again.

Leonard: From "the first in the league" to "not getting in the top 15", he lost a lot of money in five years

In the summer of 2019, Leonard joined the Clippers as "the first in the league", on the condition that "George must be traded." The Clippers gritted their teeth and sent out Alexander, Gallinari, and a bunch of first-round picks (including the first round of unprotected in 22, 24 and 26 years), in exchange for the "Kajiao" combination.

But 5 years have passed, Leonard's peak was "stolen" by injuries -

2019-2020 season: knee injury, second round eliminated;

2020-2021 season: load management, lost to the Suns in the Western Conference Finals;

2021-2022 season: torn cruciate ligament, season reimbursement;

2022-2023 season: continuous minor injuries, only 2 games in the playoffs;

2023-2024 season: only 37 games in the regular season (21.5 points per game), 7 games in the playoffs (25 points per game), and were eliminated by the Nuggets in the first round.

What's more heart-wrenching is the data: Leonard's on/off value in the playoffs is -5.3 (when he was on the court, the Clippers lost 0.2 points in 100 rounds, and won 5.1 points if he was not on the court). He used to be able to score 30 points even if he doubled his team, but now he can't even take into account both the regular season and the playoffs, and his dominance has plummeted.

His contract has 2 years left (50 million next season and 50.3 million in the last year), but the transaction value has fallen to the bottom - at the age of 34, he is plagued by injuries and has low attendance. Which team dares to take over?

Harden: He became the "Clippers Iron Man" in 79 games, and his contract renewal cost 120 million yuan for three years, but the management hesitated that during the days when Leonard was "invisible", it was Harden who supported the Clippers.

Last season, Harden played 72 games; this season, he played 79 games (second in the team, second only to Zubac's 80 games), with a total playing time of 2,790 minutes (fifth in the league). In the regular season, he averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game, and was selected as the All-Star and All-A-League. At the age of 36, he is still the "team engine".

But the sluggishness of G5 and G7 in the playoffs made him the "burden". But without him, the Clippers would not even make the playoffs (only 2 wins ahead of the Grizzlies in the regular season).

Now, Harden and the Clippers' renewal talks collapsed -

Harden wants 120 million in three years (all 40 million), because the reason is: "The full attendance in the past two years, the data is stable, which is as important as Leonard's value to the team."

The Clippers only give 70 million in two years or 90 million in three years (all about 30 million), because the reason is: "Harden's key game in the playoffs is not good, the free market has fallen, and 35 million is considered a premium."

The core of the contradiction lies in "respect" - Harden feels that he and Leonard have "same merit and different rewards" (Leonard gets 50 million, but he can't even get 40 million); the Clippers feel that Harden is "soft in the playoffs" and dare not give a long appointment.

The Clippers' "life and death choice" this summer: Leave Harden to keep the lower limit, trade Leonard for the future

Clippers boss Ballmer paid a luxury tax of 370 million yuan, and finally understood: it is better to build a balanced lineup than a superstar to bet on. There are two ways now:

1. Keep Harden: Even if the premium is (about 100 million in 3 years), at least the playoffs lower limit will be maintained. Harden can control the field and connect, and with him, the Clippers are still the "guaranteed team" of the top eight in the West.

2. Trading Leonard: This summer is the last chance - at the age of 34, he is a bit worthy of "a lean camel is bigger than a horse". He exchanges a few young chips (such as first-round pick + potential rookie) to pave the way for reconstruction.

If it is delayed until next year, Leonard will be 35 years old, and the risk of injury is higher, and the transaction value may be "zeroed".

Professional sports have no "if", only "now"

In 2019, if Leonard did not ask the Clippers to trade George, but chose the Lakers or the Raptors, perhaps history would have been rewritten. But there is no "if", only "now" -

Leonard's peak was exhausted by injuries and "load management"; Harden's value was covered up by several slumps in the playoffs. The future of the Clippers depends on whether they can find a balance between "guaranteed the lower limit" and "changing the future".

Professional sports are so realistic - the former "No. 1 player in the league" may become a "negative asset", and the questioned veterans have become the "team cornerstone". The choices of Harden and Leonard may determine the fate of the Clippers for the next five years.