One NBA writer is proposing that the Golden State Warriors acquire Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers in a massive blockbuster trade. Lee Tran of Fadeaway World proposed the following trade idea between the Warriors and Clippers:
Golden State Warriors Receive: Kawhi Leonard
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, 2027 First-Round Pick
“Last season, Kawhi Leonard averaged 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, while shooting 41.6% from the 3PT range,” Tran wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “He has shown that he can be the No. 1 option on a championship team, and the main things that bring down his value are his injury history and his contract situation. There is no doubt that he is the sort of player that the Golden State Warriors need to get back to being the favorite to win the championship. Kawhi Leonard can also play off-ball effectively and isn’t extremely ball-dominant, so he would be a perfect fit within the team’s system.”
Leonard underwent surgery on his right knee after suffering a torn meniscus during the 2023 playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. Without Leonard, the Clippers lost to the Suns in five games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kawhi Leonard, Golden State Warriors & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
A future Hall of Famer, Leonard averaged 34.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in Games 1 and 2 of the first round against the Suns before missing the rest of the series with his knee injury. The two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year signed a four-year, $176.3 million contract with the Clippers in August 2021. He missed the entire 2021-22 season recovering from an ACL injury.
Leonard appeared in 52 games last season, averaging 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 51.2% from the floor, 41.6% from 3 and 87.1% from the free-throw line. The Clippers signed Leonard in the summer of 2019 and traded for Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the franchise hasn’t reached the NBA Finals yet. Leonard and George have only played in 118 regular-season games together. Both stars have been prone to injuries since becoming teammates.
Leonard has played in 161 games with the Clippers. He’s averaging 25.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists. NBA writer Law Murray, who covers the Clippers for The Athletic, wrote about how Leonard has never signed an extension in the NBA. The star swingman has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Clippers.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kawhi Leonard, Golden State Warriors & Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Leonard and the Clippers are in no rush to get an extension done, according to NBA insider Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. The odds of LAC trading Leonard are very, very low. However, crazier things have happened in the NBA, so never say never.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
