RealGM Basketball Wiretap

18 January 2026

• Kawhi Leonard Sent Home From Road Trip Due To Left Knee Irritation

  The LA Clippers are sending forward Kawhi Leonard home early from their east coast trip due to left knee irritation. Leonard will miss the final two games of the trip at the Washington Wizards on Monday and the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.

  The team will then reevaluate Leonard when they return from the trip on Wednesday. The Clippers are set to host crosstown rivals the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

  Leonard had played in 24 consecutive games from the end of November through mid-January. He suffered a contusion in the Clippers victory over the Washington Wizards, then missed the team's loss at the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

• Clippers Sign Patrick Baldwin Jr To 10 Day Contract

  The LA Clippers have signed forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. to a 10 Day contract. Baldwin's deal will run through January 26, which will cover the rest of the Clippers current road trip, as well as two home games.

  Baldwin has appeared in 19 games with the San Diego Clippers of the G League. The three-year NBA vet has averaged 21.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game for the G League Clippers.

  This is Baldwin's second stint with the LA Clippers. He finished last season on a two-way contract with LA.

• Steve Ballmer Seeks Dismissal Of Lawsuit Alleging Kawhi Leonard Salary Cap Fraud

  Attorneys representing Steve Ballmer are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit that alleges the LA Clippers owner participated in fraud by funneling money to star Kawhi Leonard through a now-defunct green banking company, according to court documents. The filing calls the allegations "sensational" and "patently false."

  The response addresses a lawsuit initially filed on July 9, 2025, by 11 investors in Aspiration, which filed for bankruptcy in March of that year. The lawsuit alleged the investors were defrauded out of millions by Aspiration co-founder Joseph Sanberg and others at the company.

  Ballmer was not originally named as a defendant. However, following reports by journalist and podcast host Pablo Torre that said Ballmer's investment in Aspiration was an effort to circumvent the NBA's salary cap, the investors filed an amended complaint on November 3, 2025, naming Ballmer as a defendant.

  "Plaintiffs would not have invested and/or kept their investment in (Aspiration) if Ballmer and Sanberg had disclosed the true nature of Ballmer's investment," the November 3 complaint reads. "Ballmer thus supported and participated in Sanberg's fraud."

  Ballmer and the Clippers have denied they circumvented the salary cap to pay Leonard. The team has said they are cooperating with the NBA's investigation into the allegations.

  In September 2021, the Clippers and Aspiration announced a $300 million, 23-year sponsorship deal. That same month, Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration, according to the Athletic. Four months later, in April 2022, Aspiration signed a separate four-year, $28 million sponsorship deal with Leonard.

  In Monday's filing, Ballmer's attorneys say his name was added to the lawsuit "in (the investors') zeal to recover assets swindled by Sanberg from anybody with the means to pay" and that "there are no facts demonstrating an agreement between Ballmer and Sanberg to engage in salary cap circumvention."

  Ballmer's attorneys say the Clippers owner was a victim of Sanberg's fraud and lost his investment. In October 2025, Sanberg formally pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for February 23, 2026.

• Chris Paul Doesn't Want Career To End With Clippers Fallout

  Veteran point guard Chris Paul was a recent guest on Prime Sports' Good Sports with Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson. When asked about his situation with the LA Clippers and his looming retirement, Paul said this isn't how he wants his career to end.

  "I'm working out and training every day, right? In all honesty, with what with the way all that stuff went down and all that, I think for me, I just love this game so much that I don't want it to end like that," Paul said. "You know what I'm saying? So, I've enjoyed the time. I've enjoyed the time for sure. You know what I'm saying? I get a chance to go to my kids games, but I don't know yet. So, I don't know what team I hope to finish with."

  Paul hasn't played for the Clippers since December 1. While on an east coast road trip, LA's front office and coaching staff agreed to send the veteran point guard home until he's longer on the roster. The team's leadership had tired of Paul challenging head coach Ty Lue, and reported differences between the guard and his veteran teammates.

  Paul remains under contract to the Clippers. If he's not traded by the February 5 trade deadline, it's expected that the team will waive Paul.

  This past offseason, Paul limited the teams he was willing to play for to those close to his home in Los Angeles. It's unclear if Paul will open himself up to playing for teams further from his home base if he becomes a free agent.

• James Harden Passes Shaquille O'Neal For 9th On All-Time Scoring List

  James Harden moved into ninth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list on Tuesday night, passing Shaquille O'Neal.

  Harden now has a total of 28,598 points in 1,187 regular season games.

  "Shaquille O'Neal, somebody that I literally grew up watching here in L.A.," Harden said. "Him and Kobe [Bryant] doing their thing, winning multiple championships, the most dominant big man in the history of the game. It's a true honor, it's a testament to the work that I put in."

  Harden finished the night with 32 points and 10 assists during the Clippers 117-109 win over the Hornets.

  Harden is averaging 25.6 points this season, his highest average since the 2019-20 season.

  Wilt Chamberlain is eighth on the scoring list with 31,419 points.

  Harden is also 12th on the assists list with 8,604 career assists.

• Derrick Jones Jr. Out With Grade 2 MCL Sprain, Will Be Re-Evaluated In 6 Weeks

  Derrick Jones Jr. was diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain on Sunday, sources told Shams Charania of ESPN.

  Jones will be re-evaluated in six weeks.

  Jones was four games into his return from another MCL sprain in the same knee. He missed over one month with that previous injury.

  Jones is averaging 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17 games.

• Ivica Zubac Expected To Return Saturday Versus Celtics

  Ivica Zubac is available to return to the Los Angeles Clippers' lineup on Saturday against the Boston Celtics.

  Zubac has been out since suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain on December 20.

  Zubac is averaging 15.6 points and 11.1 rebounds on the season.

  The Clippers have won six straight games.

• Clippers Have No Plans For Fire Sale, Will Explore Adding Around Harden, Leonard

  The Los Angeles Clippers have no plans for a fire sale before the trade deadline and are expected to explore adding an impact player around James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic

  Team sources say owner Steve Ballmer continues his mandate to remain competitive despite the team's 6-21 start. The Clippers have won five straight games, restoring some internal hope about climbing out of their early-season hole.

  With no first-round pick in 2026 to incentivize tanking, the Clippers are focused on salvaging their season. Oklahoma City owns LA's 2026 first-rounder, which fueled league-wide speculation about the Clippers becoming sellers.

  Harden has complete control over his situation with a no-trade clause in his Bird rights contract. He has a player option worth $42.3 million for next season.

  Team and league sources say there are no signs Harden wants out. The 36-year-old former MVP and 11-time All-Star is averaging at least 26 points, seven assists and four rebounds, joining only Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, Luka Doncic and Tyrese Maxey in that statistical club.

  The Clippers can match star-level salaries using expiring contracts. John Collins ($26.5 million), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($16 million), Brook Lopez ($8.7 million) and Nicolas Batum ($5.6 million) provide flexibility in potential trade packages.

  However, a significant hurdle exists for any major deal. The Clippers have prioritized salary-cap flexibility starting in summer 2027 and are reluctant to take on contracts extending past that point.

  The team continues receiving calls about Ivica Zubac and Derrick Jones Jr., who could be difference-makers for contending teams. The Clippers are 2.5 games out of Play-In position and 9.5 games back from the sixth seed.

• Jaylen Brown, Kawhi Leonard Named NBA's Players Of Week 10

  Jaylen Brown and Kawhi Leonard have been named the NBA's Players of Week 10.

  Brown averaged 32.7 points and 6.3 rebounds as the Boston Celtics went 2-1.

  Leonard averaged 41.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.7 steals as the Los Angeles Clippers went 3-0.

• Kawhi Leonard Scores Career-High 55 Points, Skips Chase To Set Clippers' Record

  Kawhi Leonard delivered a career-high 55 points in the LA Clippers' 112-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday but elected to sit the final minute to preserve his health. The performance extended the Clippers' winning streak to four games and showcased Leonard's recent offensive surge.

  Leonard was informed by coach Tyronn Lue he was approaching the franchise scoring record but limited his fourth-quarter minutes to six. He now shares the team mark with James Harden, who previously held it alone.

  "Like I told [Lue], I would rather play another game than go out there and risk it," Leonard said. "Hopefully, we can get another win and be in the same situation. It is what it is."

  Leonard shot 17-of-26 from the field and 16-of-17 from the free throw line in 39 minutes. He scored 26 points in the third quarter alone, though his lone free throw miss in that period ended his franchise-record 64 consecutive made free throws.

  Leonard has battled knee injuries in recent years and missed 10 games earlier this season with ankle and foot issues. He reached 40 minutes for the first time this season during last week's win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

  "He's finally getting healthy and finally being able to play enough minutes to be very effective," Lue said. "When he's healthy, he's one of the top guys in the league."

  Leonard scored 41 points against Houston on Tuesday, becoming the second player in franchise history to post consecutive 40-point home games alongside Bob McAdoo. He is averaging 39.0 points over his last four games.

  "I'm more trying to get guys the ball and sharing it more than what I have been doing," Leonard said. "But the coaches need me to be aggressive the entire game."