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NBA Trade Idea Sends Kawhi Leonard to Golden State Warriors

This hypothetical NBA trade would land LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard with the Golden State Warriors

Joey Linn

Mar 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena.
Mar 15, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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The Golden State Warriors have failed to land Steph Curry and established co-star this offseason after several reports indicated that was their goal.

Unwilling to go all-in on a Paul George sign-and-trade, the Warriors watched the nine-time NBA All-Star sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Similarly, the Warriors held Brandin Podziemski off limits in Lauri Markkanen trade talks with the Utah Jazz, ending any chance they had of acquiring the talented forward before he signed a longterm extension.

With seemingly all of the top trade targets now off the market, the Warriors will likely enter next season with a roster only marginally different from one that missed the playoffs last season.

This roster is far from championship contention, which is why Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes proposed a hypothetical blockbuster trade that lands LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in Golden State.

Warriors get: Kawhi Leonard

Clippers get: Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, 2028 first-round pick (unprotected), 2030 first-round pick (protected 1-3 and 21-30), 2029 first-round swap

Kawhi Leonard and Steph Curry
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard is one of the best players in the NBA when healthy, but has been injured each of the last four postseasons when the Clippers were eliminated. This makes his trade value tough to determine, but it is hard to imagine a scenario where the Clippers move him for a package like this.

Like with their failed pursuits of George and Markkanen, the Warriors would likely have no chance of acquiring Leonard without one of Podziemski or Kuminga. Even with one of those two players on table, the Clippers likely want to see how their revamped roster around Leonard and James Harden performs next season before making any franchise-altering trades.

This Clippers used the financial flexibility created by George's departure to add to their depth, which suggests the team is looking to compete in their first year of the Intuit Dome. While Leonard would be a great fit next to Steph Curry in Golden State, it is highly unlikely he is available.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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