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Warriors’ Kawhi Leonard trade buzz gets fuel after wild play-in game
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- Warriors’ Kawhi Leonard trade buzz gets fuel after wild play-in game
Warriors' Kawhi Leonard trade buzz gets fuel after wild play-in game appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Following the LA Clippers ' monumental collapse in the fourth quarter of a 126-121 Play-In Tournament loss to the Golden State Warriors , ending the Clippers' season, could Kawhi Leonard be on the move during the offseason? Leonard mustered up two points in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss. At the same time, the Warriors outscored LA, 43-32, erasing a 13-point deficit to cruise to a five-point victory.
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As fans ponder what's next for the Clippers, whose historic turnaround season fell short of reaching the playoffs, a report on the Warriors' previous interest in Leonard ahead of this year's trade deadline has resurfaced, per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
"The season-ending loss to the Warriors was noteworthy for another reason. In February, the Warriors were among the teams that called the Clippers to inquire about Leonard's availability after the Harden trade, according to multiple sources," Shelburne said. "Though those talks fizzled, there is an expectation they could be revisited in the offseason."
With All-Star Stephen Curry , who led the Warriors with 35 points, still playing at a high level, Golden State will do its best to improve the roster around him. Jimmy Butler III's season-ending ACL injury changed the trajectory of the Warriors' regular season, which at times, led to them hovering over and below a .500 record.
Resparking trade talks with the Clippers to guage the asking price for Leonard could be a step that's in the cards for Golden State's summer plans.
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Kawhi Leonard on Draymond Green 's defense in Warriors loss
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
After Warriors veteran Draymond Green reminded Clippers' Kawhi Leonard that he still can still defend at a high level, it led to a comeback that ended the Clippers' 2025-26 season. Leonard addressed Green's elite defense after the loss .
Leonard gave Green his flowers during his postgame media availability .
"Hall of Fame defender. It was hard to even get shots up," Leonard said.
It'll be interesting to see how the Clippers approach the offseason.
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