The Golden State Warriors’ primary target this summer is still Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo — and rightfully so. But if the two-time MVP doesn’t end up in the Bay, the Dubs already have an absolute backup plan that feels too good to be true: they are closing in on Kawhi Leonard.
Yes, that Kawhi Leonard.
According to a bombshell report from The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, the Clippers’ recent moves — including the Ivica Zubac trade and the James Harden deal that sent him to Cleveland — have league executives openly wondering if Kawhi’s time in Los Angeles is officially over. The writing on the wall is clear: another blockbuster trade this summer could send the two-time NBA champion packing.
And if that happens, the Warriors are positioned to pounce.
This wouldn’t just be a trade. This would be a straight-up poaching.
Leonard, still one of the league’s premier two-way forces, is putting up monster numbers in his current season: 27.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a whopping 2.0 steals per game. He’s shooting 49.2% from the field and a sizzling 38.3% from three. Pair that elite scoring with his lockdown defense, and suddenly Chase Center transforms into an absolute fortress — a place where opponents simply don’t want to visit.
Missing out on Giannis would sting. Badly. But landing Kawhi Leonard? That keeps Stephen Curry’s championship window wide open and instantly makes the Warriors a nightmare matchup for anyone in the Western Conference.
The fact that rival front offices are already whispering about Kawhi potentially hitting the trade market is the biggest gift the Dubs could ask for heading into the offseason. Unbelievable? Absolutely. True? The signs are all there.
Golden State is about to turn a potential heartbreak into one of the most terrifying roster upgrades in recent memory.