The Golden State Warriors were one of the franchises active prior to the NBA's February trade deadline. The Warriors dealt Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks for Kristaps Porzingis.
Prior to acquiring Porzingis, it was reported that Golden State had multiple NBA stars as trade targets. Per ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Warriors had inquired about Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard.
"In the lead-up to the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 5, the Warriors checked in on Jaren Jackson Jr., Giannis Antetokounmpo and were among the teams to make a call about Kawhi Leonard when it appeared the LA Clippers might be open for business, league sources said."
The Warriors currently hold the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings. Although it was not revealed who Golden State was willing to deal in a trade for Leonard, it can be presumed that the two-time NBA champion would likely have played alongside franchise star Stephen Curry.
A Career-Best Year
While a right knee injury limited Leonard's availability over the last couple seasons, the 34-year-old has made a significant comeback to the court. This season, Leonard is averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game.
Last month, Leonard earned his seventh All-Star selection. He was a member of Team USA Stripes for the All-Star Game tournament, notably scoring 31 points over 12 minutes.
In terms of team success, the Clippers hold the ninth spot in the Western Conference standings. The franchise is currently positioned for a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.
While Leonard looks to be staying in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future, the franchise has made major moves throughout the season. The Clippers sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.
The Clippers also traded Chris Paul to the Toronto Raptors. Due to conflict between Paul and Clippers personnel, the 40-year-old guard was sent home after 16 games with the organization.
Overall, in case of a hypothetical trade, Leonard would have pivoted from a youthful Clippers team to a veteran-heavy Warriors lineup. Both teams will be looking to pick up momentum during the latter half of the season.
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