Perhaps, this is Leonard's final scene with the Clippers.

When the final buzzer sounded, the broadcast screen was entirely occupied by Warriors players hugging and celebrating. They executed an almost flawless quarter, erasing a 13-point deficit in the final period to secure this vital victory and prolong their season.

A brief flash in the broadcast showed Leonard and his teammates waiting on the court to greet the Warriors. It was certainly an intense playoff contest, just that the result was disappointing for them.

To put it bluntly, Leonard delivered arguably the worst fourth-quarter performance of his career. In the entire final period, he played 8 minutes, making only 1 of 2 shots for 2 points and 1 rebound. His sole basket came from a layup when the game was already out of reach. During his time on the floor, he witnessed the Clippers' perimeter defense collapse and showed little offensive initiative himself.

The Warriors applied the highest level of defensive pressure on Leonard throughout the game, with Draymond Green relentlessly hounding him, and help defense and double-teams ready at any moment. Their strategy aimed to limit Leonard's shots, wear down Garland defensively, and force others to step up. The Warriors executed their tactics exceptionally well. Leonard managed only 17 attempts for 21 points, shooting 1-of-6 from three-point range. Garland started strong but quickly fell into foul trouble.

Such a performance from Leonard was undoubtedly disappointing. As a star of his caliber, he should have stepped up to halt the Warriors' rapid comeback in the fourth quarter, but he repeatedly faltered against Draymond Green's tenacious defense. Throughout the game, when guarded by Green, Leonard shot 2-for-7 for just 5 points and committed 3 turnovers.

In the final minute, during one of the game's most dramatic sequences, Leonard attempted to isolate against Draymond Green. His crossover dribble was stripped outright, every move anticipated by Green. This should have been Leonard's signature move, but this time he became the backdrop. If this indeed marks Leonard's final moment with the Clippers, it is a rather bitter ending.

Over these years, the Clippers have experimented with various lineup combinations around Leonard, yet team performance has never significantly improved. In the 2022 playoffs, the eighth-seeded Clippers lost two consecutive games and exited. They then suffered three consecutive first-round exits in the following years. This year, the Clippers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, losing all three playoff games in franchise history.

This Clippers team, which embarked on its journey in 2019, reached its furthest point in the 2021 Western Conference Finals. However, Leonard was injured midway through that run, and it was Paul George who led the team to the Conference Finals. Since then, the Clippers have never advanced beyond the first round.

From the duo of George and Leonard, to George, Leonard, and Harden, then to Harden and Leonard, and this season shifting to Garland, George, and Leonard—every permutation has ultimately failed. Thus, naturally, as the Clippers made a dismal exit this year, many wondered whether the path of the Clippers and Leonard has reached its end.

If we disregard the outcome, the Clippers' season was actually quite inspiring. From starting 6-21 and briefly ranking last in the Western Conference, to finishing 42-40 and securing ninth place in the regular season, their "northern campaign" could be considered a success.

The Harden trade certainly disrupted all expectations, but it also allowed Leonard to deliver arguably his best regular season performance. Averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range. Achieving a career-high scoring average in his 14th season—no one before Leonard had accomplished that.

After Harden departed, Leonard led the team's continued push, dragging the Clippers into the playoffs. From the despairing losing streak at the start of the season to the hope of making the playoffs at the end, Leonard exerted himself fully, maintaining health until the season concluded. When the Clippers began shifting direction mid-season, it was Leonard who ensured the team had a relatively respectable finish this year.

Of course, the future must still be confronted. The Clippers' first-round pick this year was already sent to the Thunder in the Paul George trade, and it will be a lottery pick with a decent position. In 2027, the Clippers will possess a first-round pick, but it will be the lowest among the Thunder, Nuggets, and Clippers. Only by 2030 will the Clippers truly regain a complete first-round pick of their own.

In the Zubac trade, the Pacers gave the Clippers a first-round pick, conditional on the Pacers landing a pick between 5th and 9th—a probability so low it's almost negligible, yet not entirely hopeless.

This Clippers team currently lacks sufficient immediate competitive strength and has no clear future outlook. The way to break through might still lie with Leonard. Capitalizing on Leonard's career-best regular season performance by trading him for substantial rebuilding assets is certainly one option for the Clippers' management.

Do not forget, the league's investigation into the Clippers' alleged circumvention of salary cap rules has not yet concluded. If the league imposes severe penalties and Leonard's contract is voided, making him a free agent, that would be catastrophic for the Clippers.

This summer, all the assets from the George trade will finally be delivered to the Thunder. If a complete reset is considered, this might be the optimal timing.