The Los Angeles Clippers find themselves at a familiar crossroads. After years of championship aspirations tied to the initial duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, injuries, inconsistency, and playoff heartbreak have left the franchise with more questions than answers.
Leonard remains one of the most impactful two-way players in the league when healthy, as displayed by his performances against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. However, with another failed campaign in the books, the clock may be ticking on the Clippers’ current core.
The forward’s significance to the franchise cannot be understated. After winning a title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, Leonard joined the Clippers in hopes of bringing a similar kind of success to the team.
Although the Clippers certainly looked like one of the best teams in the league, their star forward was constantly riddled with injuries, finding himself on the bench more than on the court.
This season was no different as the forward suited up for only 37 games of the regular season. This in itself would be grounds for considering trades. But his performances in the playoffs certainly give the Clippers enough hope to keep the experiment alive a bit longer.
Leonard recorded 25.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on a hyper-efficient 53.7% FG in the series against Denver. The forward almost single-handedly created an opportunity for the team to go through to the next round. Unfortunately, this didn’t come to pass.
The Clippers always have to gamble when it comes to Leonard. When he’s healthy, he’s otherworldly. Otherwise, he’s not even on the bench due to the severity of his injuries.
In light of this, NBA analyst Yossi Gozlan floated the idea of the Clippers exploring the possibilities of trading Kawhi Leonard. With three title contenders emerging as potential landing spots, we take a look at what a trade involving Leonard would look like for them.
The Denver Nuggets Establish A Legitimate Big Three
Proposed Trade Details
Denver Nuggets: Kawhi Leonard
Los Angeles Clippers: Michael Porter Jr., Zeke Nnaji, Dario Saric
The Denver Nuggets are coming off a disappointing second-round exit after losing a seven-game series to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Although Nikola Jokic‘s brilliance continued to shine through, the Nuggets had bigger issues to deal with.
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. had some of their worst performances in Game 7. While Murray has still been outstanding in some games, the inconsistency with Porter Jr. has been astounding. In light of this, he can be on the trading block.
Acquiring Leonard could prove to be a task for the Nuggets, especially with their salary situation. However, if they can manage to swing this deal, Denver adds one of the most versatile two-way players in the league and immediately becomes a title contender.
The forward gives a boost to their offense. With Jokic having one of the most efficient scorers available as a passing option, the Nuggets’ star trio could run rampant against any defense in the league. Additionally, the defensive unit of Aaron Gordon and Leonard is poised to be a force to be reckoned with.
For the Clippers, this move brings back a high-ceiling scorer in Porter Jr., who, at 26, still has room to grow. Nnaji adds athleticism and youth in the frontcourt, while Saric offers salary matching and veteran depth.
While this trade does very little for the Clippers, it gives them a young group of players who can hit the ground running with James Harden controlling the tempo.
The Miami Heat Get The Superstar They’ve Wanted
Proposed Trade Details
Miami Heat: Kawhi Leonard
Los Angeles Clippers: Andrew Wiggins, Duncan Robinson
The Miami Heat are on the lookout for a superstar. After crashing out of the playoffs this season, it became abundantly clear that the Heat needed to make some changes. A play to acquire Kawhi Leonard might be what they need.
The forward adds a lot of value to the Miami team. Effectively taking the place of Andrew Wiggins on the roster, Leonard gives the team offensive and defensive flexibility, just on a higher level.
The star pairing of Leonard and Bam Adebayo also proves to be quite formidable. With two of the best defenders in the league playing on the same team, Miami could potentially look at becoming one of the best defensive teams in the league through this trade.
Additionally, Leonard also pairs beautifully with Tyler Herro and Adebayo. Acting as the midrange threat between the two, the Heat would have a bucket-getter at virtually every level.
For the Clippers, Andrew Wiggins gives them a versatile and durable two-way wing with championship experience who can fill some of Leonard’s shoes. Meanwhile, Duncan Robinson stretches the floor and brings elite shooting to a team that can only benefit from more spacing.
This trade wouldn’t spark a full rebuild for Los Angeles, but it would allow the Clippers to remain competitive while creating future trade flexibility.
The Cleveland Cavaliers Become Championship-Ready
Proposed Trade Details
Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: Kawhi Leonard, Derrick Jones Jr.
Los Angeles Clippers Receive: Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter
The Cleveland Cavaliers went into the postseason as one of the best teams in the NBA. With a 64-18 record, they were the top-seeded team coming out of the East. After a cakewalk through the first round, a disgruntled Cavs team came up short against the Indiana Pacers.
The loss to the Pacers made it abundantly clear that the Cavaliers had to make minor adjustments. But a move to acquire Kawhi Leonard would certainly set them on a different path in this regard.
The acquisition of Leonard would be paired with the departure of Darius Garland. While this is unfortunate, Leonard’s sheer versatility would make up for it.
By effectively improving upon De’Andre Hunter‘s role, the forward would add a significantly more efficient option on offense next to Donovan Mitchell. Additionally, being placed next to the reigning DPOY, Evan Mobley, would turn Cleveland’s defense into an extremely formidable machine capable of shutting down some of the best offensive systems.
The trade would also be incredibly beneficial for the Clippers. A young and talented star in Garland would do wonders for the team over time. This also allows the Clippers to retain their win-now approach with Harden as the second star in this scenario.
Meanwhile, Hunter has also proven himself to be a key role player on any team he’s on. His development could be worth it considering his potential as a two-way player.
At 33 years old, Leonard is still a highly effective player and a bona fide superstar when he is on the court. But at this stage, the Clippers will be heading into yet another season with no guarantee of whether he’ll play more than 60 games.
A decision to trade Kawhi Leonard would be nothing short of monumental, especially in light of the time and patience the fan base has committed to him. Although given the current circumstances and factors of age, it would be smart for the front office to entertain the idea purely to get the most out of him while they still can.
