Warriors: LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard in Sights to Support Stephen Curry

Golden State poked around on Kawhi Leonard before the deadline — back when the Clippers reshaped their roster, flipping James Harden to Cleveland and sending Ivica Zubac to Indiana. L.A. held the line. They kept Leonard, then doubled down by bringing in Darius Garland as the centerpiece of the Harden deal.

It hasn’t exactly clicked.

The Clippers sit at 38–36, clinging to the eighth seed in a crowded West, and they haven’t sniffed a deep playoff run since 2021. There’s a growing sense around the league that this version of the Clippers has plateaued — caught between timelines, not quite old, not quite young, and not nearly dangerous enough.

That’s where Golden State re-enters the picture.

League sources expect the Warriors to circle back on Leonard this summer, especially if the Clippers lean further into a youth movement. Leonard, now 34, is still producing at an elite level: 28.3 points, 6.3 boards, over 50% from the field, nearly 40% from three in 58 games. The numbers say star. The situation says crossroads.

And that tension — between production and direction — is what could finally pry Leonard loose.

Acquiring LeBron James would prove simpler for the Warriors. The King, now 41, is set to hit free agency after averaging 20.9 points, 6.9 assists, and 6.0 rebounds this season. A pairing with Stephen Curry — alongside longtime friend Draymond Green — carries both basketball and timing logic. James has also been linked to a potential return to Cleveland if he leaves Los Angeles.

According to Marc Stein, Golden State is “regularly described by rival teams as one of the few credible destinations” for James. “It makes sense,” a league source said of the connection between the player and the Warriors.

Leonard and James would give the Warriors veteran wings with championship pedigree. Since their 2022 title, the team hasn’t reached the Western Conference Finals. After the two-timeline plan with Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, and Jordan Poole fell short, Golden State leaned into veterans like Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis, but injuries have gutted the roster this season.