The Golden State Warriors are looking for an opportunity to build a dream team for the next season. But before finding younger talents, the front office is chasing veterans. Kawhi Leonard. Well, the idea of having a 15-year-old veteran and 2-time champion on the team to bolster Stephen Curry’s 5th ring dreams. But interestingly enough, this attraction toward the Klaw isn’t new for the Dubs.
Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard wrote: “Multiple league sources indicated this week that the Warriors were reasonably close to trading for Kawhi Leonard last February — apparently with much of the deal terms generally agreed to — before the Clippers ultimately decided to pull out of the talks.”
The Warriors’ interest could take a turn in the offseason of 2026. And that’s simply because pundits believe that Kawhi Leonard could attract potential suitors following his resurgent season with the LA Clippers in the ongoing season.
This comes after his overall performance in 60 appearances in the 2025-26 season. He is averaging 28.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. However, the Clippers surprisingly decided to cut ties with the 34-year-old at the Feb 5 deadline. But ultimately, they kept him!
The Warriors were close to acquiring Kawhi Leonard at the deadline before the Clippers pulled out, per @timkawakami
They are expected to make another aggressive push for him in the offseason. pic.twitter.com/xDxyAdA8eI
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 2, 2026
And that’s exactly what players like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler are aiming to do. Moreover, a Curry-Leonard duo could prove lethal. Add Butler to the soup, and they might actually have a backcourt worth terrorizing the league once again. But Kawhi comes with a hefty cost.
For 2026–27, Kawhi Leonard carries a $50.3 M cap hit on a fully guaranteed $149.5 M deal with the Clippers, while the Dubs already sit at $273.7 M in total cap allocations; worst in the league. That leaves a brutal -$108.7 M cap space. Meanwhile, apron buffers stand at $27.02 M and $40.0 M. But if the Warriors can wait until 2027, then they could have a UFA Kawhi Leonard.
Therefore, the Warriors face a financial crunch and must ship out massive salaries, which makes any move incredibly complex. Meanwhile, many believe that the front office is making attempts to delay Steve Kerr’s exit.
Steve Kerr’s fate is cloudy amidst the Kawhi Leonard hope
But as Steph’s comeback has some clarity, attention naturally shifts to Kerr’s future, despite an elusive answer. The 60-year-old has stayed tight-lipped, offering no real clues and even sidestepping questions earlier this week. However, chances are that the Warriors will have Coach Kerr back leading from the sidelines next season.
However, reports say that the front office hasn’t held any serious conversation over Kerr’s contract since last July. He last signed a 2-year, $35 million extension in February 2024. At the same time, Coach Kerr, too, hasn’t informed the organization whether he wants to come back or not. But if the front office does acquire Kawhi Leonard, then maybe the veteran coach could stay back for that 5th title run with Curry and Co.
So, the Warriors stand at a crossroads, and this call will define everything. Kawhi Leonard is likely within their reach, but the path to acquire him might require bold sacrifice. Thus, with the windows shrinking, Steve Kerr’s future ties directly to this gamble. If the front office goes all in, the mission is clear. If it stalls, then this era risks fading without one final swing.
