DHJ Quick Take
- The “Determined” Pursuit: The Golden State Warriors made a strong push for Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard at the 2026 trade deadline and are expected to revisit trade talks this offseason.
- Rebuild in LA: After trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers are officially in rebuild mode, making it increasingly likely they move on from Leonard before he hits free agency in 2027.
- Curry’s Window: With Stephen Curry having turned 38 this month, the Warriors are under immense pressure to pair him with an elite co-star to maximize the final year of his current contract.
The Golden State Warriors made a “determined” run at Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, according to reporting from Marc Stein. While a deal didn’t materialize in February, the Warriors may pursue a trade with the Clippers again this offseason.
“The Warriors made what has been described as a determined trade run at the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard in the final hour before the Feb. 5 trade buzzer sounded under the belief that Leonard might be unexpectedly unavailable after LA agreed to ship Ivica Zubac to Indiana,” Stein wrote. “The Clippers ultimately balked then, but it is reasonable to presume that Golden State will investigate that possibility once again.”
Analyzing Kawhi Leonard’s Trade Value and Contract Status
Most people in the NBA believe the Clippers should trade Leonard this offseason since they are no longer a championship contender. Leonard has just one year left on his contract. He will make $50.3 million next season and then hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2027.
Leonard is putting up MVP numbers for the Clippers this season, showing the entire NBA world that he’s not even close to being washed. The California native is averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field, 38.1% from beyond the arc and 89.9% from the free-throw line.
A future Hall of Famer, Leonard is a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He was named a top 75 player of all time in 2021. The San Diego State product holds career averages of 20.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.6 blocks per game with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Clippers.
The Golden State Warriors’ Urgency to Support Stephen Curry
It will be intriguing to see where Leonard is playing next season. He will most likely not be on the Clippers since the team is rebuilding after trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Zubac to the Indiana Pacers.
The Warriors could miss the playoffs this season. As of this writing, they are in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. The 10th seed needs to win two NBA play-in games to make the playoffs as the eighth seed.
Golden State superstar Stephen Curry turned 38 on March 14. He has one year left on his contract after this season. If the Warriors want to win a fifth championship in the Curry era, they need to get Steph an elite co-star and Leonard would certainly fit that bill.
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