LA Clippers: 3 teams competing with the Clips for Kawhi Leonard next year

May 9, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) moves in to defend during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) drives to the basket as New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) moves in to defend during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
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LA Clippers, Kawhi Leonard
Mar 7, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Team LeBron guard Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (30) handles the ball against Team Durant forward Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers (2) during the 2021 NBA All-Star Game at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 team competing for Kawhi Leonard: Golden State Warriors

If the Golden State Warriors go out and sign Kawhi Leonard, they may return to being unstoppable.

They’ll get Klay Thompson back sometime around the beginning of the year next year, and of course still have Steph Curry and Draymond Green in the picture.

There are a couple of issues, though. Paying for that wouldn’t be possible. They’d have to find a way to trade Andrew Wiggins because he’s due to be paid $30 million next year.

Next, they’d have to either part ways with one of Curry, Thompson, and Green, or already part ways with last year’s number two overall pick James Wiseman.

Due to the fact that Curry, Thompson, and Green have been a huge part of three championships, it may be hard for the Warriors to pull the plug on one of them. Ditching Green or Thompson for Leonard would pay massive dividends, but ditching Curry might not.

Putting Leonard on the team instead of Wiseman would also be a very wise move, but they may just want to stick with the very high pick they made and believed in just last year.

There is a way to make it work, but it would be hard to get everybody on the same page, and the Warriors might already like their chances with a fully healthy team next season anyway.