NBA Trade Rumor: Kawhi Leonard Heads To Detroit Pistons in Proposed Blockbuster

The Kawhi Leonard rumors just won't go away. The LA Clippers superstar has had his name floated on the trade block quite a bit this season, partly because the Clips removed key veterans from their roster by trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac, and partly because his future in LA is in question.

The NBA is in the process of deciding what sort of punishment they'll be handing out for the infamous alleged salary cap circumvention affair. Word is that a voiding of Leonard's contract is on the table. That would make him a free agent.

But if he's still under contract with the Clippers, we've got a proposed trade to consider, that would send Kawhi back to the Eastern Conference, to join the top seed Detroit Pistons. It comes to us from Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report.

Pistons Receive:

Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Receive:

Duncan Robinson
Isaiah Stewart
Ron Holland
2027 first-round pick
2031 first-round pick swap

Of course, landing Kawhi would make the Pistons the immediate favorite to come out of the East next season, and perhaps win the championship. We all know what happened the last time he was dealt to an Eastern contender, back in the 2018-19 season. He led the Toronto Raptors to the title in an epic, all-time playoff performance.

Joining forces with Cade Cunningham, and a supporting cast that includes fellow youngsters Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, along with veteran Tobias Harris and others, could make the Pistons tough to beat.

Why would the Clippers do this Kawhi sell-off?

The Clippers would consider this mainly for the first-round assets and the upside of the 5th overall pick in the 2024 Draft, Ron Holland. Additionally, Stewart and Robinson are contributing complementary pieces as well, who would fit with their new roster.

The aforementioned trades the Clippers executed brought in some exciting young offensive pieces, guys who can create, both for themselves and others. But the game needs to be played on both sides of the ball. So this deal would address that.

"The new-look Clippers have a lot of offense and shot creation between Garland and Mathurin. Slotting Holland and Stewart into lineups with them would bring a little more defensive energy and willingness to finish plays rather than start them," writes Bailey.

This surely won't be the last hypothetical Kawhi trade we hear about. They should be coming fast and furious this offseason.