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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 17: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers before the game against he Quin Snyder of the Atlanta Hawks at Crypto.com Arena on March 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TThe Golden State Warriors are locked into the play-in tournament with five regular season games remaining. Stephen Curry is expected back Sunday against the Houston Rockets. The postseason push is almost here.
But a report published this week revealed something about the Warriors’ offseason ambitions that reframes just how aggressively this front office has been operating behind the scenes.
Golden State was closer to landing Kawhi Leonard than anyone knew. And according to the San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami, next season could have a “last dance feel” for this Warriors core.
“There might be a last dance feel.” 🕺
– Tim Kawakami on next season for the Warriors (via @WillardAndDibs).
How Close the Warriors Were to Kawhi
GettyKawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers.
According to the San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami, the Warriors were reportedly close to acquiring Leonard at last February’s trade deadline. Much of the framework was reportedly in place before the Los Angeles Clippers ultimately pulled out of the discussions.
The deal never happened. Golden State pivoted and landed Kristaps Porzingis on an expiring contract instead. But the revelation confirms what the Warriors have been signaling for months. This is not a franchise in transition. It is a franchise swinging for one more star, and it came closer to landing one than the public realized.
For a team that has navigated a brutal season defined by injuries to Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Moses Moody, the Kawhi detail carries real weight. It speaks to what the Warriors believe they are still capable of building around Curry while the window remains open.
What It Means for This Summer
The failed Kawhi pursuit does not close the door. If anything, it opens it wider heading into the offseason. Kawakami suggests the Warriors will reportedly explore ways to add Leonard without losing Draymond Green, Butler, or Porzingis in the process. That is an ambitious ask, but it speaks to how seriously Golden State is treating this window.
Owner Joe Lacob has been clear that he plans to wait until after the season before making any major decisions, noting the organization will assess where things stand before determining the path forward. What is already clear is that the Warriors intend to be aggressive. The Kawhi talks were not a passive inquiry. They were a serious pursuit that came apart at the last moment because the Clippers walked away, not because Golden State hesitated.
The Warriors have also remained heavily involved in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes alongside the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, with Bucks co-owner Wes Edens making clear that Antetokounmpo will either sign a new deal or be moved this summer. Golden State already offered four unprotected first-round picks at the February deadline in pursuit of the two-time MVP. That offer did not go away when the deadline passed.
Two stars pursued. Neither landed. The summer is another chance.
The Kerr Factor
GettySteve Kerr, Golden State Warriors.
None of this offseason aggression makes sense without stability on the sideline. That is where Steve Kerr enters the picture.
Kerr’s contract expires this summer, and the uncertainty surrounding his return has followed the Warriors all season. But Kawakami’s reporting suggests the most likely scenario is Kerr coming back for one final season. Nothing is decided. The conversation between Kerr and the organization has not happened yet.
The Athletic’s Nick Friedell has indicated that Curry wants Kerr back, arguing there is no one the Warriors could plug in who would move the needle more heading into what shapes up as a pivotal offseason. A franchise chasing another star has every reason to want its championship-tested coach in the building for one more shot.
Kerr’s career record stands at 603-348, and he has led Golden State to six NBA Finals appearances and four championships. There is no obvious successor waiting. There is no reason to blow it up when the pieces are still in place.
Final Word for the Warriors
The Kawhi revelation is the clearest sign yet of what the Warriors are willing to do. They came close once. They will try again.
Curry is back on the floor Sunday. Kerr, by all indications, will be back next season too.
The offseason moves will follow. Right now, the focus is on the play-in.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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