Clippers Notes: Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac

Kawhi Leonard is the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, but that hasn’t stopped the larger conversation around his future.

Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register wrote this week that the Clippers should consider exploring Leonard’s trade value while his stock is high. Leonard has been dominant during the team’s five-game winning streak and continues to produce at an elite level when available.

The concern, Swanson notes, is the bigger picture. Leonard’s tenure in Los Angeles has been defined by injuries, and even if the Clippers climb into the play-in mix, a potential first-round matchup with a team like Oklahoma City would likely spell another early exit.

Swanson suggests the Clippers may be better served using Leonard to jump-start the next phase of the franchise, whether that means acquiring draft capital or a younger star.

Can Hot Streak Last?

Law Murray of The Athletic examined whether the recent run is sustainable, noting the heavy offensive burden being carried by Leonard and James Harden after several offseason moves failed to deliver the intended results.

“I’ve never really kind of been in this situation,” Leonard said, via Murray. “I’m more trying to get guys the ball and just sharing it more than what I’ve been doing. But the coaches need me to be aggressive the entire game.”

How long that balance can hold may influence how aggressive the Clippers are ahead of the trade deadline.

Injury Updates

There was some positive news on the health front. Center Ivica Zubac has begun on-court work as he rehabs a Grade 2 left ankle sprain and is expected to return sometime in mid-January, Murray reported.

Meanwhile, guard Bogdan Bogdanovic will miss at least two more games with a hamstring injury, and his availability for next week’s three-game road trip remains uncertain.