Getty
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers.
As the Golden State Warriors prepare to re-engage the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason in their long-running pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, league insiders say another elite name has emerged as an “obvious” alternative: Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers star and two-time Finals MVP, has rediscovered his All-NBA form after navigating years of injury-related uncertainty — a resurgence that has not gone unnoticed around the league.
Speaking on The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN Warriors insider Anthony Slater said Leonard checks nearly every box Golden State is prioritizing.
“He’d be an obvious Warriors candidate as well,” Slater said. “Obviously, they’ve been in the Giannis chase, but they need a big wing who can score and defend.”
Leonard’s Late-Game Brilliance Reinforces Star Value
Leonard’s name resurfaced amid another reminder of his star power.
On Wednesday night, Leonard drilled a contested 13-foot turnaround fadeaway as part of a three-point play with two seconds remaining to lift the Clippers to a 105–102 comeback win over the Houston Rockets.
“Tried to get something going left, saw a double-team,” Leonard said after the game. “So I spun and just got to a spot and shot over the top.”
Leonard finished with a game-high 27 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, capping his 33rd consecutive 20-point performance — the third-longest single-season streak and fourth-longest overall in Clippers history, according to ESPN Research.
“He’s a shotmaker,” said Rockets forward Kevin Durant, a former Warriors superstar. “He can make shots from all over the floor… He’s just patient out there — one of the greatest of all time.”
Leonard’s Contract Status Drawing Leaguewide Interest
Leonard’s on-court resurgence has coincided with growing uncertainty around the Clippers’ direction.
According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, teams across the league have been monitoring Los Angeles closely following deadline trades involving James Harden and Ivica Zubac.
“Trust me, there were trade talks involving Kawhi,” Windhorst said on the same podcast. “I don’t know if anything ever got serious, but teams called — because why wouldn’t they? I expect them to re-engage over the summer.”
Leonard will have a $50.3 million expiring salary next season, placing his long-term future in Los Angeles squarely in question. His situation is further complicated by a pending league investigation into potential salary-cap circumvention involving Aspire, an environmental firm that was once connected to the franchise.
Warriors’ Need for an Elite Two-Way Wing
For Golden State, Leonard fits a familiar championship blueprint.
The Warriors’ title runs have consistently featured elite two-way wings, from Durant to Andrew Wiggins. After dealing Wiggins in a blockbuster move to acquire Jimmy Butler, the Warriors have actively searched for a long-term replacement capable of anchoring both ends of the floor.
Golden State explored possibilities with the New Orleans Pelicans for Trey Murphy III, but was unable to pry him loose. Meanwhile, Milwaukee ultimately decided against moving Antetokounmpo during the season, delaying Golden State’s primary target.
Leonard now represents a potential pivot — one that aligns with Golden State’s urgency to maximize the remaining championship window around Stephen Curry.
Warriors Positioned to Strike This Summer
Golden State enters the offseason armed with flexibility. The Warriors control up to four future first-round picks, giving them the assets to engage in another star-level pursuit if Antetokounmpo remains unavailable.
Whether Leonard becomes attainable will depend on the Clippers’ appetite for a reset — and Leonard’s own willingness to move — but league insiders are increasingly treating him as a realistic target rather than a hypothetical one.
As the Warriors prepare for another aggressive offseason, the message from around the league is clear: if Golden State cannot land Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard may be the next elite wing to reshape their championship ambitions.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
More Heavy on Warriors
Loading more stories