Report: Clippers could try to change FA timeline from 2027 to 2026

There was a lot of optimism around the Los Angeles Clippers entering this season, but any hopes that the team would contend in the Western Conference have perhaps already been dashed.

Thanks to poor injury luck — namely a season-ending injury to guard Bradley Beal — and some underwhelming play from some of their new additions, the Clippers are just 6-16 on the campaign, the third-worst record of any team in the conference.

With how poorly the 2025-26 season has gone for them so far, the Clippers reportedly could try to “move up their free agency timeline from the 2027 offseason to next summer.” However, such a pivot would require the Clippers to clear their books of star players James Harden and Kawhi Leonard going into the 2026 offseason, which might not be easy.

“Some sources have indicated that the Clippers could try to move up their free agency timeline from the 2027 offseason to next summer, which would require finding trade partners with cap room to take on Harden ($42 million player option for 2026-27) and Leonard (owed $50 million in 2026-27),” ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote.

“The feedback from league insiders has been that, while a team would take on Harden, it may be more difficult to find a landing spot for Leonard because of his injury and the Aspiration case still ongoing.”

One NBA scout working for a team in the Eastern Conference offered a harsh assessment of Harden’s and Leonard’s values.

“James has maybe neutral value,” the scout said. “Kawhi has negative value.”

As has been the status quo for much of Leonard’s time with the Clippers, injuries have held him back this season. He’s appeared in just 12 games so far, but he’s done a nice job of staying on the floor in recent games. His value as of now is an interesting discussion because of what he brings to the table when healthy.

After all, he’s still one of the premier two-way players in the game when he’s able to take the court. In the 2025-26 season, he’s averaging 25.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Moreover, he’s scoring the ball at a highly efficient rate, as he’s shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range.

Still, it would be hard to blame teams for being wary of factors like his age, contract, injury history and the Aspiration case.

As for Harden, he’s been a whole lot more available than Leonard has this season, but his expensive contract and advanced NBA age of 36 certainly negate his trade value a bit. Across 21 games played thus far in his third season as a member of the Clippers franchise, Harden is averaging 26.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 8.4 assists per contest.

Harden was an All-Star last season and could be one again this season. But given all of the factors involved, that may not automatically make him a positive trade asset.