On ‘The Stein Line, ’ Marc Stein reported that the Golden State Warriors, a major divisional rival of the LA Clippers, attempted to seriously trade for Kawhi Leonard at the deadline following Ivica Zubac’s move to the Indiana Pacers. It did not work, as everyone can see, but Stein added shortly after that it's fair to assume the Warriors will revisit the opportunity to make a blockbuster deal including Leonard once more, likely in the offseason.
Understandably so, it’s clear why the Warriors want Leonard. Their front office has a goal to maximize the remaining time Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler have left in the league, which is not long, considering both are not far from 40.
What better way to do so than acquiring an MVP-talent who was just an All-Star, playing his best basketball at a similar point in his career?
The Warriors will have to pay a hefty price, if they can even get a hold of LA
Although reports from Marc Stein indicate the Golden State Warriors may show legitimate interest in Kawhi Leonard, they must be ready for the haul the LA Clippers will ask for in return.
As of now, Leonard’s value on the market is through the roof, which is excellent for the Clippers’ long-term plans, as he is on pace to play 65 games this season, and is currently averaging 28.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, on 62.9% true-shooting.
To even get the Clippers to talk seriously about moving Leonard, the Warriors should be ready to offer up several picks, and younger guys like Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, and/or Will Richard.
There’s just absolutely no way the Clippers let go of the best player they’ve ever had in the history of their franchise for a package that doesn't benefit the future ahead of them. A third team may need to get involved if Lawrence Frank is not satisfied with the Warriors’ proposal.
Additionally, there’s a world where the Clippers simply hang up because they see the Warriors calling. They are a rival at the end of the day, and giving them a player like Leonard immediately increases their odds of winning the NBA Finals.
On that note, the Clippers may be open to moving Leonard, but could do the same to other Western Conference teams. It’s happened in the NBA before, and LA could add its name to the list.