Warriors Reportedly Eyeing Kawhi Leonard Trade After Mutual Praise

The back-and-forth compliments between Kawhi Leonard and the Warriors have fueled speculation about a potential offseason trade.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:20am by

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of blue, gold, red, and white, capturing the intensity and strategic nature of the matchup between the Warriors and Clippers.The Warriors' defensive masterclass against Kawhi Leonard fuels speculation of a potential offseason trade between the two teams.San Francisco Today

LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and the Golden State Warriors exchanged high praise for each other following a close play-in tournament game, leading to speculation that the Warriors may pursue a trade for Leonard in the offseason. The Warriors were reportedly close to trading for Leonard at the deadline, and with the Clippers potentially undergoing a roster overhaul, the opportunity could arise again this summer.

Why it matters

Acquiring a player of Kawhi Leonard's caliber would be a major coup for the Warriors as they look to return to championship contention. Leonard's two-way dominance and championship pedigree would make the Warriors an instant title favorite, but any potential trade would likely require the Warriors to part with significant assets.

The details

In the Clippers' 126-121 loss to the Warriors in the play-in tournament, Draymond Green effectively shut down Leonard in the fourth quarter, holding him to just two points. After the game, Leonard praised Green's Hall of Fame-caliber defense, while Green and Stephen Curry returned the compliment, expressing their respect for Leonard as one of the all-time greats. This mutual admiration has fueled speculation that the Warriors may revisit trade talks for Leonard this offseason, as they were reportedly close to acquiring him at the trade deadline before the Clippers pulled out of the discussions.

  • The Warriors defeated the Clippers 126-121 in the NBA play-in tournament on April 16, 2026.
  • The Warriors are set to face the Phoenix Suns in the final play-in game on April 18, 2026, with the winner advancing to the first round of the playoffs.

The players

Kawhi Leonard

A star forward for the LA Clippers who is widely regarded as one of the best two-way players in the NBA.

Draymond Green

A veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors known for his elite defensive abilities and playmaking skills.

Stephen Curry

The star point guard for the Golden State Warriors and one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.

Ty Lue

The head coach of the LA Clippers.

Darius Garland

A former All-Star guard for the LA Clippers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Draymond, Hall of Fame defender. It was hard to even get shots up.”

— Kawhi Leonard

“It's an honor to play against a great all-time great like Kawhi Leonard. He's a special, special player and he's a worker.”

— Draymond Green

“I got the utmost respect for Kawhi Leonard. I appreciate playing against the all-time greats and Kawhi Leonard is one of the greatest our league has seen.”

— Draymond Green

“It's not a fun job [to guard Kawhi Leonard]. Defensively, you're at the mercy of somebody like a Kawhi Leonard, who is gonna make you work hard all night. Draymond feeds off of those battles.”

— Stephen Curry

“Kawhi always brings the best out of me.”

— Stephen Curry

What’s next

The Warriors will face the Phoenix Suns in the final play-in game on Friday, April 18, 2026, with the winner advancing to the first round of the playoffs.

The takeaway

The mutual respect and praise between Kawhi Leonard and the Warriors, combined with the Clippers' potential roster overhaul, has fueled speculation that the Warriors may make another push to acquire the superstar forward in the offseason, which could make them an instant title favorite if successful.