The Golden State Warriors have a list. At the top: Kawhi Leonard. Also on it: Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James. The three biggest names potentially available this offseason.
The Warriors badly want to add major talent after a failed season. They want to give Stephen Curry one more real shot at a championship before the window closes forever.
But according to the Third Apron Podcast, the Kawhi Leonard trade that Warriors fans have been dreaming about is unlikely to happen.
The problem isn’t the Warriors’ desire. It’s the Clippers’ disinterest.
Let me break down why the Clippers don’t want what the Warriors are selling, what Golden State would have to give up to change their minds, and why this dream is probably dead.
The Clippers’ Perspective: No Interest in Old Contracts
Let me start with the source.
The Third Apron Podcast reported that the Clippers are not interested in the realistic trade packages the Warriors can offer.
Here’s the key quote:
“I don’t think the Clippers should be interested in taking back those current Warriors (Draymond Green or Jimmy Butler) or in Andrew Wiggins’ case, a former Warriors champion.”
Let me translate that: The Clippers don’t want Draymond Green. They don’t want Jimmy Butler. They don’t want Andrew Wiggins.
Why? Because all three have major flaws.
Draymond Green: 36 years old. Declining offensively. A defensive specialist whose best years are behind him. His player option complicates everything.
Jimmy Butler: 36 years old. Recovering from a torn ACL. An enormous contract. A massive risk for a team trying to rebuild.
Andrew Wiggins: Inconsistent. Never lived up to his No. 1 overall pick billing. A solid player, but not a centerpiece for a franchise-altering trade.
The Clippers are looking to the future. They want young players and draft picks. Not aging veterans with questionable health and declining skills.
The Salary Cap Problem: Butler or Green Must Be Included
Let me get into the numbers.
To make a trade for Kawhi Leonard work financially, the Warriors would have to send out matching salary. That means either Jimmy Butler (45+million)orDraymondGreen(45+million)orDraymondGreen(27 million, plus other pieces) would have to be included.
Butler is recovering from a torn ACL. He’s 36. His contract is massive. The Clippers would be taking on a huge risk.
Green is 36. He’s a defensive specialist whose offense has declined. His player option gives him control over his future. The Clippers would be trading for uncertainty.
Neither player is what a rebuilding team wants.
The Wiggins Option: Not Much Better
Let me briefly address the Andrew Wiggins possibility.
Wiggins is younger (31). He’s healthier. He’s a former champion.
But he’s also inconsistent. He’s never been the star everyone thought he would be. He’s a solid starter — not a franchise centerpiece.
The Clippers could get a similar player from another team without taking on the risk of a bad contract.
The Warriors’ Secret Weapon: Draft Picks
Let me talk about the one thing the Warriors have that other teams don’t.
Golden State has four first-round picks available to trade. And here’s the key: those picks could be extremely valuable.
Why? Because Stephen Curry is 38. Draymond Green is 36. Jimmy Butler is 36. The Warriors are old. When those players retire or decline, the Warriors could be bad. Very bad.
That means the Warriors’ future draft picks — in the late 2020s and early 2030s — could be lottery picks. Top-10 picks. Franchise-altering picks.
The Clippers, who have traded away many of their own future picks, could use a treasure chest of draft assets.
That’s the Warriors’ only real leverage.
The Catch: Taking a Bad Contract
Let me be honest about the problem.
Even with a haul of draft picks, the Clippers would have to take back a bad contract. Either Butler (injured, expensive) or Green (old, declining).
The Warriors would have to attach multiple first-round picks just to get the Clippers to consider taking on that contract.
Is that worth it for Kawhi Leonard? A player who is also injury-prone? A player who is 34 years old? A player who has missed significant time in multiple seasons?
That’s the question the Warriors’ front office has to answer.
The Leonard Health Question: A Risk Within a Risk
Let me talk about Kawhi.
When healthy, Kawhi Leonard is a top-10 player. He averaged over 23 points per game last season. He played elite defense. He was the Clippers’ best player.
But he’s also 34. He’s missed significant time in almost every season since 2017. His knees are a ticking time bomb.
The Warriors would be trading for a player who might not even be on the court in May. And they’d be giving up multiple first-round picks to do it.
That’s a massive gamble.
The Competition: Other Teams Want Kawhi Too
Let me mention that the Warriors aren’t alone.
The Miami Heat are interested. They have a better young core and can offer the Clippers players like Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Houston Rockets have young talent and draft picks. The Minnesota Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards (untouchable, probably) and other assets. The Detroit Pistons have cap space and young players.
The Clippers will have multiple offers to consider. The Warriors’ offer — old players, bad contracts, and draft picks — might not be the best.
What the Warriors Would Have to Offer
Let me put a realistic package together.
To get the Clippers to even listen, the Warriors would have to offer:
Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green (salary filler)
Jonathan Kuminga (if he’s still on the roster)
Brandin Podziemski (young, cheap, productive)
Four first-round picks (unprotected or lightly protected)
That’s a lot. That’s gutting the future for a 34-year-old with injury problems.
Is that worth it? Probably not.
Final Verdict: The Dream Is Dead
Here’s my honest take.
The Golden State Warriors are not going to trade for Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers don’t want what the Warriors are selling. The Warriors don’t want to give up what the Clippers would demand.
The math doesn’t work. The fit doesn’t work. The health concerns are too significant.
The Warriors should focus on other targets. LeBron James (free agency). Giannis Antetokounmpo (a different trade puzzle). Or, more realistically, younger players who can grow with the team.
The Kawhi Leonard dream was nice while it lasted. But it’s time to wake up.
One thing’s certain: The Warriors will be aggressive this offseason. But don’t expect Kawhi Leonard to be wearing blue and gold next season.