Golden State Warriors 'Love for Kawhi' Could Lead to Trade
The Golden State Warriors ‘really’ want to land Kawhi Leonard and are still actively pursuing him
— Hoops Alerts (@TheHoopsAlerts) June 18, 2026
(via @KevinOConnor) pic.twitter.com/Ai6yToZiLN
I do think the Warriors still want Kawhi Leonard. I still think the Warriors are still going for Kawhi Leonard... I don't think this Warriors' love for Kawhi Leonard has declined at all. It's just a matter of if the Clippers are going to decide to go young.
And while owner Steve Ballmer has insisted he has no desire whatsoever to trade Leonard, O'Connor feels that could be a smokescreen.
"There are some people around the league that I've talked to who have indicated that they might just be trying to leverage their way into getting more back."
It's true, as KOC notes, that the Clippers' actions and current position is certainly indicative of a team that is going young: Trading James Harden, trading Ivica Zubac, bringing in young promising stars Bennedict Mathurin and Darius Garland. And now, getting a boost in the draft from the lottery, to the No. 5 overall pick.
"I think that's an intriguing thing to keep in the back of your mind when it comes to what could happen between now and the Warriors being on the clock at No. 11 (in next week's NBA Draft)."
'There isn't a better time than right now to trade Kawhi', & Warriors are all over it
Fellow insider Tom Haberstroh agreed with O'Connor, and adds that "there's no guarantee that Kawhi is going to be healthy next season, and then you're going to try to trade him after that? And then let him walk for nothing (as a free agent)?
"There isn't a better time than right now to trade Kawhi Leonard, where he has top value, he's healthy, playing at a high level."
Indeed, Leonard would bring even more veteran leadership to a Warriors team looking for one last run at a championship in the Steph Curry era.
