How the Warriors can finally unite Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard on the same team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Following their intense showdown in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament earlier this month, the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers could do business together on a blockbuster trade that would signal a rebuild in LA — and one last push for a championship in the Bay Area.
Stephen Curry and the Warriors are in flux after missing the playoffs this season. The same can be said for Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. After Los Angeles began the season with a 6-21 record, the Clippers caught fire down the stretch and ended the season with 36 wins from the final 55 games.
Los Angeles did this by prioritizing the development of younger players — and the NBA draft lottery could hand the Clippers another gift if the Indiana Pacers’ first-round pick falls outside of the top four. That scenario would see the Clippers pick fifth or sixth to continue their youthful retool.
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Of course, it would also leave Leonard — with one year and $50 million remaining on his contract — in an awkward position if he wants to compete truly for another championship before the end of his career.
ESPN though projects that Leonard could team up with Curry on the Warriors as Golden State tries to squeeze out whatever is left of its dynasty years.
The proposal involves the Warriors sending the injured Jimmy Butler’s contract to the Clippers, along with first-round picks in 2027 and 2032, in exchange for Leonard — who is able to sign a two-year contract extension after the NBA Finals.
“From the Warriors’ viewpoint, swapping Butler for a healthy All-Star makes too much sense — even if the 2032 first-round pick ends up in the lottery,” ESPN’s salary cap expert Bobby Marks said.
Uniting Curry and Leonard — even if it’s for just a couple years — would be a major boost to the Warriors amid uncertainty over head coach Steve Kerr’s future with the franchise. For both future Hall of Famers, it may represent their final chance to win one last ring.
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