Clippers executive offers blunt take on James Harden and Kawhi Leonard’s future with the team

James Harden and Kawhi Leonard have been the faces of the Los Angeles Clippers for years. In Game 7 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, they gave it their all, but the result was no surprise. After the Clippers’ elimination, questions about the duo’s future quickly emerged, prompting team president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank to address the situation directly.

Leonard spoke to the media following the loss and acknowledged that mistakes were made during the series. He expressed a desire to improve, vowing to come back stronger next season.

Harden, on the other hand, did not speak to the press after the series. Since Game 4, he has skipped media availability, reportedly leaving the arena before the press conferences began. His silence has fueled speculation about whether he intends to return to the team.

Amid the uncertainty, Frank offered a clear stance on both players’ futures. “I wasn’t giving any consideration to Kawhi Leonard and James Harden not being on this team next season,” he told reporters. Frank also praised Harden, adding: “Everything we wanted from James, we got that and then some.”

James Harden #1 of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Clippers executive speaks candidly after Game 7 loss to Nuggets

Game 7 was a disaster for the Los Angeles Clippers. They failed to maintain defensive intensity, and the Denver Nuggets broke through what was supposed to be “The Wall” in L.A. In the aftermath, Frank delivered a brutally honest assessment, focusing on the team’s disappointment and acknowledging another wasted opportunity to make a deep postseason run.

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“What happened in Game 7, that was extremely embarrassing. And also uncharacteristic… We’re disappointed with our playoff exit… Our players are embarrassed about Game 7. They’re really upset we lost this series,” Frank told reporters during a press conference.

Still, Frank expressed optimism for the team’s future and offered encouragement heading into the offseason. “We feel really good about our core. And we expect to be really good again next season,” he said, adding that Kawhi Leonard remains a central figure in the franchise’s plans moving forward.

Uncertainty looms over Leonard’s future with the Clippers

Despite Frank’s vote of confidence in both Harden and Leonard, Leonard’s comments after the Game 7 loss raised questions. When asked about the impact he and Harden could have next season, his response left some fans uneasy.

“I don’t know right now. I guess we’re still playing at a high level, in a sense. But that’s a hard question to answer right now,” Leonard said following the series-ending defeat to Denver.