NBA Trade Rumor: Surprising Team Set To Pursue Kawhi Leonard Trade

What will happen with Kawhi Leonard's LA Clippers contract is in question these days. Reports emerged on Monday that a voiding of his contract is very much on the table when the NBA hands down its punishment for the whole cap circumvention affair in the coming days.

And if that happens (or a trade is executed this summer), while the Toronto Raptors are thought of as a potential landing spot for Kawhi, the latest rumor has the Milwaukee Bucks going for it.

According to Ahn Fire Digital, "The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to pursue a trade for Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard this offseason."

The Bucks are under immense pressure to surround two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo with a co-star. Leonard is one of the top players in the NBA and would make Milwaukee a legitimate championship contender.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers coached Leonard on the Clippers, and Antetokounmpo has told people close to him that he would love to play with Leonard, sources said.

Of course, the Doc Rivers angle might not exactly win Kawhi over, as Doc was the architect of the Clippers blowing a 3-1 series lead in the second round of the 2020 playoffs (one of many such blown series leads of Rivers' career, but not something that Kawhi was very familiar with).

Nevertheless, there are cries for the Bucks to take one last, glorious, monster swing at keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee by pairing him up with Kawhi.

Jon Horst please trade for Kawhi this offseason.

He’s the perfect fit next to Giannis and it would be the best final all in move to cap off Giannis’ Bucks career.
— Eric Nohelty (@epnohelty) February 16, 2026