In a stunning revelation that’s sending shockwaves through the NBA, the Golden State Warriors were reportedly inches away from landing one of the league’s most dominant forces: Kawhi Leonard, the seven-time All-Star and two-time Finals MVP. But just as negotiations heated up, the Warriors pivoted to a controversial deal for Kristaps Porzingis, derailing what could have been a franchise-altering move. Now, with the dust settling, fans are left wondering if Golden State can still salvage a path to Leonard—or if this missed opportunity will haunt them for seasons to come.
For weeks, whispers have circulated about the Warriors’ aggressive pursuits of superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaren Jackson Jr. as they aimed to bolster their roster amid a competitive Western Conference. However, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne dropped a bombshell in their recent report: Golden State was also among the teams that reached out to the LA Clippers about Leonard when it seemed the Clippers might be dismantling their core. This inquiry came at a time when the Clippers appeared vulnerable, having already traded away key pieces like James Harden and Ivica Zubac. Despite the roster shakeup, Leonard ultimately remained in LA, leaving the Warriors to explore other options.
The pivot to Porzingis, acquired in a trade that sent promising young forward Jonathan Kuminga packing, has since been scrutinized as a hasty decision that closed the door on bigger fish. Without Kuminga’s contract to help match salaries in a potential Leonard deal, the Warriors’ trade packages have become significantly more complicated. Some analysts floated the idea of a sign-and-trade involving Porzingis himself to bridge the salary gap, but that scenario is riddled with red flags. For starters, the Clippers would likely have far less interest in the injury-prone Porzingis compared to the upside of Kuminga, making such a swap a tough sell.
So, can the Warriors still pull off a Leonard acquisition? At this point, the paths forward seem limited—and increasingly improbable. One option that’s been bandied about is packaging Jimmy Butler along with a haul of first-round picks. The salaries align closely, but Butler’s recent ACL injury could make him a non-starter for a Clippers team looking to rebuild with reliable assets. The question boils down to how many picks Golden State would need to sweeten the pot, and whether LA would bite on a deal centered around an aging, rehabbing star.
An even wilder possibility emerged from NBA insider Tom Haberstroh on Yahoo Sports Daily back on February 24. Haberstroh speculated that if Leonard’s contract is voided amid the ongoing Aspiration scandal—details of which we’ve broken down in a separate analysis—the Warriors could swoop in during free agency. “I think if Kawhi Leonard is now a free agent, you’re going to see a frenzy for his services with the likes of the Lakers, with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, or the New York Knicks,” Haberstroh said. In this hypothetical, Golden State might snag Leonard on a veteran minimum deal initially, but he’d hit unrestricted free agency in July, where teams with cap space like the Lakers could lure him away with a max contract.
Regardless of whether Leonard ever dons a Warriors jersey, the front office—led by general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.—is facing backlash for the Kuminga-Porzingis swap. Porzingis has suited up for just one game since arriving in Golden State, sidelined by a string of illnesses that raise serious questions about his durability and long-term viability in the NBA. What was billed as a bold move to add frontcourt depth now looks like a gamble that sacrificed youth and potential for fleeting upside, all while potentially costing them a shot at a true game-changer like Leonard.
As the league continues to buzz with trade rumors and scandal fallout, one thing is clear: the Warriors’ offseason maneuvering has been anything but dull. But in hindsight, passing on Leonard—or at least altering their strategy because of the Porzingis deal—might go down as the what-if moment that reshaped the franchise’s trajectory. Stay tuned as this story develops; the NBA never sleeps, and neither do the Warriors’ ambitions.