LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) could be a Golden State Warriors trade target.
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LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) could be a Golden State Warriors trade target.
Certainly, it would make sense, now that the apparent pursuit by the Golden State Warriors of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has cooled, for Golden State to turn its attentions to another top-level wing player. That would be Kawhi Leonard, the oft-injured Clippers star who made “load management” an NBA norm.
Leonard is with the Clippers for another year, at $50 million, part of a three-year, $153 million deal. He is still one of the best players in the league, when he is able to take the floor. He is averaging 27.9 points this year, with 6.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists, collecting a league-high 2.1 steals per game.
There was talk ahead of the trade deadline that, after moving James Harden and Ivica Zubac in surprise trades, the Clippers would also be open to moving Leonard. But teams that inquired found that was not the case–the Clippers were not ready to pull a Leonard trade. Now, though, there is speculation that Leonard could go after this season.
Warriors Would Pursue ‘Obvious’ Target
Of course, the Warriors are at the front of the line in any talks about Leonard. If those talks get going again, Golden State can offer a full spate of draft picks and would have no issues matching salaries.
As ESPN’s Anthony Slater said on the “Hoops Collective” podcast last week, “He’d (Leonard) be an obvious Warriors candidate as well. Obviously, they’ve been in the Giannis chase, but they need a big wing who can score and defend.”
But the Clippers might not be so keen on trading Leonard, and it is not just about his on-floor production. The Clippers are also tied to Leonard in ways that go beyond basketball, and that could tamp down any realistic trade for him.
Already, it’s been shown, via reporter Pablo Torre, that Leonard had a side deal with the Clippers involving a failed environmental company called Aspiration, said to be worth $28 million. The NBA is conducting an investigation into the deal, because it would circumvent league salary-cap rules.
Additionally, there has been talk of other side deals that Leonard and his family members have with owner Steve Ballmer and the Clippers. That’s where things could get dodgy. It would be hard to trade Leonard if there are extra agreements beyond his NBA contract.
Kawhi Leonard Relationship With Clippers Could Be Complicated
If, indeed, there are separate deals that the Clippers have with Leonard, there could be extra incentive in place not to move him. Having a good package and making a strong offer, then, would not necessarily matter for the Warriors.
Ballmer does have an affinity for Leonard. That doesn’t necessarily mean there are more deals beyond the Aspiration investigation, but it does mean trading for Leonard will not be easy.
“You can say Steve Ballmer just likes Kawhi Leonard and does not want to trade him and that’s where it ends,” one GM said this week. “Any owner can stop a front office from trading a player, that’s pretty basic. And you do get the sense that they won’t talk about trading Kawhi and that maybe that comes from above.”
That, in the end, could make it difficult for the Warriors, or anyone to pry Leonard from the Clippers.