The Dallas Mavericks have discussed a trade for Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, according to The Athletic, a deal that would reunite the two-time NBA Finals MVP with Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri.
The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Christian Clark and Dan Woike reported that Dallas built its discussions with Los Angeles around Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and draft picks. Any deal would likely hinge on Leonard agreeing to a contract extension with the Mavericks.
Masai Ujiri Looks to Reunite With Kawhi Leonard in Dallas
Ujiri took over Dallas’ front office in May and has a long history with Leonard. As an executive with the Toronto Raptors in 2018, he acquired Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs in a package centered on DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick. Leonard went on to win the 2019 championship and Finals MVP in his lone season in Toronto before leaving for Los Angeles in free agency.
Ujiri has framed the Mavericks’ rebuild around their young core, even as the Leonard talks point toward a win-now swing.
“We have a 19-year-old generational player on our roster,” Ujiri said after he was hired. “We have to think that way. We are not going to make decisions based on winning today.”
Kawhi Leonard’s Extension List Drives the Market
Leonard is entering the final season of a three-year, $149.5 million contract and is owed $50.3 million in 2026-27. He turns 35 this week.
The Mavericks are not the only team pursuing him. The Raptors have explored reacquiring Leonard, and the Detroit Pistons also looked into a deal, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported. Fischer added that Leonard would consider signing an extension only with Toronto or San Antonio, his first two NBA teams, and would not commit long term to Detroit. It is not known whether Leonard would extend with Dallas.
The trade talks unfold against the backdrop of an ongoing NBA investigation into the Clippers over payments to Leonard tied to the company Aspiration.
How Kawhi Leonard Fits Alongside Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving
Leonard averaged a career-high 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals across 65 games for the Clippers last season and earned All-NBA Second Team honors. Los Angeles lost to the Golden State Warriors in the play-in round.
In Dallas, Leonard would join reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, who is set to return next season. The Mavericks hold a lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and a roster of mid-sized contracts that gives Ujiri the flexibility to build a competitive offer, though a Leonard trade would cost Dallas depth.
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