Golden State Warriors made a late-season commerce push for Kawhi Leonard, in line with NBA insider Marc Stein on The Stein Line Sunday, March 29. The workforce tried the transfer earlier than the Feb. 5 commerce deadline after the Clippers despatched Ivica Zubac to Indiana, making a perception Leonard may be out there. The Clippers in the end declined the supply, however Stein famous it’s doubtless the Warriors will revisit a possible deal this offseason.
Leonard, 34, is within the second yr of his three-year, $149 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. He has performed 59 video games this season, averaging 28.2 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and three.6 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 50.3% from the sector and 38.4% from three-point vary. His efficiency has saved the Clippers aggressive, and so they maintain a 39-36 document, inserting them eighth within the Western Convention playoff race.
Golden State has confronted vital roster challenges this season, with accidents sidelining key gamers. Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, Al Horford, and Will Richard have all missed prolonged time because of knee, heel, or calf points. The Warriors sit at 36-39, 23 video games behind the highest seed within the West.
Including Leonard would give the Warriors a confirmed star able to complementing Curry and Butler, probably enhancing their scoring and defensive presence. Leonard’s capacity to stretch the ground and play lockdown protection would tackle gaps uncovered throughout Golden State’s injury-plagued season.
The Clippers’ latest commerce exercise, together with transferring Zubac, suggests flexibility in future roster choices. Nonetheless, any deal for Leonard would require vital belongings, as he stays a cornerstone for Los Angeles. Golden State would doubtless want to incorporate younger expertise reminiscent of Podziemski or draft issues to safe a commerce.
