The Golden State Warriors’ offseason priorities are coming into focus — and they center on landing another superstar. New reporting confirms Golden State came close to acquiring Kawhi Leonard at the trade deadline, signaling a clear intent to make an aggressive push this summer.
According to Tim Kawakami, the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers had “generally agreed” on the framework of a deal before the Clippers abruptly backed out. That near-miss now reads less like a one-off and more like a preview of Golden State’s offseason blueprint.
Warriors’ Star Chase Signals Urgency Around Curry Timeline
Golden State’s urgency starts with Stephen Curry. The franchise cornerstone turned 38 in March and has just one guaranteed year left on his deal after this season. In other words, the Warriors’ championship window with Curry at the helm is nearing a close.
The Warriors are clinging to the edge of playoff contention, sitting in the Play-In range, and their current roster hasn’t consistently looked like a title threat. Injuries, most notably the season-ending ACL tear to Jimmy Butler, have only reinforced the need for another elite option. That’s where Leonard enters the picture.
Even with a lengthy injury history, Leonard is still producing at an MVP level. He’s averaging 28.1 points while shooting over 50% from the field and nearly 90% from the line. In short, when healthy, he remains one of the few players capable of shifting a championship race. The Warriors gave up on the two-timeline approach when they sent Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline. Now it’s all about maximizing the home stretch of Curry’s career.
Kawhi Leonard Situation Could Reopen Door
Leonard’s situation adds another layer of opportunity and risk. He’s entering the final year of a $50.3 million contract, and league insiders widely expect the Clippers to explore trade options this offseason. But the ongoing NBA investigation tied to the organization and Leonard’s relationship with a now-bankrupt company could change everything.
If the league voids his contract, Leonard would become an unrestricted free agent overnight. That outcome would fundamentally reshape the market and likely put the Golden State Warriors at the front of the line. By letting Kristaps Porzingis walk in unrestricted free agency, they could open up some money to make a run at Leonard.
But they would also still be at risk of crossing the second apron, given that Curry, Butler and Draymond Green if he picks up his player option, make over $150 million combined next season. In other words, this is the ultimate lean all-in for the Warriors as a last-ditch effort.