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The Golden State Warriors were in trade talks with the LA Clippers , according to a recent report, which involved veteran Kawhi Leonard ahead of this year’s deadline. After James Harden ’s trade demand landed him with the Cleveland Cavs , the Clippers were taking calls about making an additional move.
The Clippers front office was in talks with the Clippers for a Leonard trade that, of course, never materialized, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater.
“Ambition flickered inside Warriors headquarters as the trade deadline approached. They were waiting, league sources said, for word from the Los Angeles Clippers on a trade concept involving Leonard,” Shelburne and Slater reported. The Warriors had called about his availability a handful of times over the years and been quickly rebuffed.
“But the Clippers had signaled a possible sea change when they traded James Harden and engaged with multiple teams, including the Warriors, on what became a trade with the Indiana Pacers for Ivica Zubac .”
While the Clippers were focused more on finalizing their Zubac trade to the Pacers, the front office never technically declined the Warriors’ offer for Leonard.
“The Clippers hadn’t given much oxygen to the Warriors’ pursuit. But they hadn’t given an outright rejection, either, and it gave the Warriors hope they might be able to hit one more big shot in an era defined by them,” Shelburne and Slater added. “The Clippers brass brought the idea up top to governor Steve Ballmer for discussion.”
Perhaps the Warriors and LA will revisit talks during the offseason.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
How the Warriors were close to trading for Kawhi Leonard with the Clippers will be a storyline to follow during the offseason. The Warriors were significantly close to pulling off a deal for Leonard, according to the San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami.
“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,” Kawakami reported.
“He added that “Leonard’s name continues to be connected to possible Warriors moves — either in continuing trade talks or, as many around the league are speculating, if Leonard’s remaining contract with the Clippers is voided after the investigation into salary-cap circumvention.”
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