The Los Angeles Clippers are out of the NBA Playoffs at the hands of the Phoenix Suns. Paul George missed the entire series, and Kawhi Leonard was not available to play following Game 2, ending the team’s chances of getting past the superteam Suns led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Quite frankly, the Clippers were undermanned even if Russell Westbrook returned to All-Star form.
Looking ahead to next year, there are big questions about the Los Angeles Clippers and how they will attack the 2023-24 NBA season after yet another injury to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is one of the most frustrating players in the NBA to follow because he just can’t keep healthy, which is why an esteemed NBA analyst called him the worst superstar in NBA history. While that sounds harsh, Kawhi has not made life easy for Clippers fans. Reports have also come out that Leonard has been somewhat selfish in not communicating with teammates and staff, and that doesn’t look good for the superstar player either.
Of course, to be fair, there are concerns about the player’s personal life right now as a torn meniscus, and the unfortunate situation with his sister could be weighing on him. With so much going on, Leonard might need a change of scenery. The best place to get a superstar motivated and happy is Golden State, a franchise with a championship pedigree. Despite falling 0-2 to Sacramento, the Warriors have bounced back to take a 3-2 lead. Clearly, the team has what it takes to win.
Could the Warriors possibly have enough trade assets to take a gamble on Kawhi Leonard? Kawhi has not played at least 65 games since the 2016-17 season with the San Antonio Spurs, and he isn’t getting younger at age 31. Here is the massive trade deal that will give Golden State a massive superteam to win the championship next year.
Trade Details
Trade Package: Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody, 2023 First-Round Pick for Kawhi Leonard, Terance Mann
Obviously, this trade guts the Warriors in terms of depth but brings back one of the best two-way players in NBA history, along with a score-first guard in Terance Mann, who competes hard on both ends. It has been unbelievable how little Kawhi and George have played together, and changes must be made once and for all. Here is how a blockbuster deal works for both sides.
Golden State Warriors Have The Best Team In NBA Again
Golden State made the Finals and won it all last year thanks to the experience and talent of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, although they are currently locked in a tight battle with the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the playoffs. If the Warriors can get past the young and pacey Kings in the first round, the team is right back in business, especially with Andrew Wiggins back and playing like an All-Star. Based on what we saw last year, Golden State has a very solid lineup that can play defense and score with the best of them.
However, to grab Kawhi Leonard, arguably a top-5 player in the world when healthy, they will have to sacrifice two starters and two bench players with draft compensation. If any franchise wants to risk trading for a franchise star in Kawhi Lenard, it is the Warriors. Kawhi Leonard is still in his prime at 31 years old and is clearly a more dominant two-way player than Wiggins while being a more capable scorer than Poole, meaning Golden State could take another step forward with a blockbuster deal of this caliber.
The Clippers would also ask for a first-round pick, and the Warriors will have to answer accordingly. The title window for Golden State is wide open because the West is winnable if they can acquire a player that can compete with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, while Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson do their things from the perimeter. A lineup of Curry, Klay, Leonard, Green, and Looney will likely return to the Finals and win it all as soon as next year. This will be the same team as the 2017 and 2018 Warriors with Kevin Durant, except with slightly more defense and more risk since Kawhi has yet to remain healthy. If Golden State doesn’t win it all, this trade makes sense for them.
Los Angeles Clippers Rebuild Quickly
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard has missed far too many games in the last four years. He has not led the Los Angeles Clippers to the NBA Finals just yet, as the closest he got was the Western Conference Semifinals, and blew a shocking 3-1 lead against the Denver Nuggets. But his unavailability has been a major issue, as he has played under 60 games every season with the Clippers, including this season. For a franchise that is getting a new arena and wants to get out of the shadow of the Lakers, this is not working.
Yes, Kawhi is an injury-prone player, but he is a proven star, and he led the Toronto Raptors to the NBA championship against all odds in the 2018-19 season. It is just a matter of time before the Clippers fans become tired of Kawhi’s load management, and Steve Ballmer could trade him in order to bring more picks and start a rebuild or even acquire a proven All-Star player who can bring the toughness and hustle for the Clippers. In comes Wiggins and Poole, who are win-now players that can also be held for the future and a very talented youngster in Moses Moody, who is only 20 years old. Gary Payton II is a stout defender who will never take a break on defense as well.
The Clippers also add a first-round pick to their stash and start a new era. A lineup of Russell Westbrook, Jordan Poole, Paul George, Andrew Wiggins, and Ivica Zubac will be tough to handle next year as the franchise starts looking to the future as well. Los Angeles can decide what they want to do with George next year, but first, getting rid of a problem in Kawhi could start a fresh era in which the Clippers can finally get away from the Lakers’ shadow. Getting back two All-Star-caliber players, a talented youngster, and a wing defender, along with a first-round pick, could be exactly what Los Angeles needs to get back to relevance instead of frustrating postseason exits.
A Win-Win Deal For Both Sides
Golden State, if they don’t win a championship this season, could be undergoing major changes, and acquiring one of the best two-way stars in the world to add to the championship core of Curry, Thompson, and Green could be in the cards. Maximizing the title window is critical because Steph is 35 years old and won’t be getting younger, and Klay had to come back from major injuries. There are questions about Draymond’s future, but if he accepts his player option, he can be back for one more year in a “Last Dance” format.
With Leonard, the Warriors have the best superteam in the NBA, even ahead of the Phoenix Suns. Leonard and Durant can match up well, but nobody places Chris Paul above Stephen Curry right now, while Klay can go off for big nights just as Devin Booker can. Draymond isn’t as talented as Deandre Ayton offensively, but he is a better defender and leader. The coaching situation is intriguing as well, although Steve Kerr is one of the greatest at his position and has plenty of experience to back it up. Golden State become the favorites next year with Kawhi and likely win another championship.
Meanwhile, on the Clippers side, it is rare that a team trades a superstar player, and it actually ends up being a win-win deal. Kawhi Leonard is one of the greatest two-way players ever, and his teammates have come out to support him, including former MVP Russell Westbrook, who claimed Leonard is the best player in the world when healthy. Leonard is certainly a top-five player in the world when healthy, but a change of scenery could do him good. With the Golden State Warriors, Kawhi becomes a superstar for a franchise that will be the best around him.
