The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers already have a history this offseason, having failed to agree on a Paul George trade that culminated in the 9-time All-Star moving to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
The Clippers’ reasoning was simple: they didn’t want to add more money to the books in the form of terrible contracts, and they surely didn’t want to bolster their Pacific rival’s hopes of returning to the playoffs in 2025. Could the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers agree on another trade with a different All-Star forward?
Given the George outcome, it seemed improbable that the Warriors and Clippers will form a trade partnership so soon following those negotiations. Yet, that is exactly what Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report advocated in a recent post titled ‘5 NBA Offseason Trades That Can Still Happen’.
The suggested deal between Golden State and Los Angeles would send Kawhi Leonard to the Bay in return for Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney, Moses Moody, an unprotected 2028 first-round selection, a protected 2030 first-round pick (1-3 and 21-30), and a 2029 first-round pick swap.
The George scenario isn’t the only stumbling barrier here; it’s highly improbable that the Clippers would want to trade their franchise star just weeks or months before moving to a new arena. However, if each team does not get off to a good start, this bargain might become a reality by midseason.
This is probably reasonable value in such a scenario — the Warriors may be paying overs, but that’s what they’ll have to do if the need for a second star becomes even more apparent, and to assuage any mounting concerns Stephen Curry could have. There’s little doubt Leonard has the potential to be that second star, and he should theoretically fit in better with Golden State than any other player on the market. The two-time Finals MVP earned Second Team All-NBA last season, averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting an amazing 52.5% from the field and 41.7% from three. Leonard’s health is always a concern, and a new three-year, $149.5 million contract makes this everything but a home run move. Three selections, Moody, and a starter in Wiggins (plus Looney and Payton) is a huge package, but at least the Warriors get to maintain their two coveted young assets, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, while retaining a third. Jackson-Davis. It’s not a deal that will happen in the near future (at least not without substantial shock), but it does highlight the Warriors’ need to keep their powder dry in case something like this becomes a viable possibility by mid-season.
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