Warriors reportedly called Clippers about Kawhi Leonard trade – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
The Warriors have been amongst a number of NBA groups energetic earlier than February’s NBA trade deadline.
Golden State centered a variety of its consideration on pursuing Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo till the two-time NBA MVP in the end ended up staying with the team that drafted him in 2013.
In addition, the Warriors reportedly discussed a potential trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. earlier than the two-time All-Star choice was acquired by the Utah Jazz.
General supervisor Mike Dunleavy and Co. additionally reportedly called the Los Angeles Clippers about Kawhi Leonard when the group appeared open to buying and selling their celebrity franchise, ESPN’s Anthony Slater and Ramona Shelburne reported in a joint column revealed Friday, citing league sources.
A trade for Leonard by no means got here to fruition both, which led the Warriors to pivot to the Atlanta Hawks and trade their disgruntled younger ahead Jonathan Kuminga for 10-year NBA veteran Kristaps Porziņģis.
Leonard continues to be within the prime of his profession, even at 34 years previous, averaging 27.9 factors, 6.4 rebounds and a couple of.0 steals per recreation and incomes an All-Star nod this season. Adding the two-time NBA champion to Golden State’s roster immediately would have introduced in each offensive and defensive firepower.
Instead, the Warriors acquired Porziņģis, who has not suited up since his Golden State debut on Feb. 19 in opposition to the Boston Celtics due to a mysterious illness.
“Porziņģis had been on the franchise’s radar as an eventual trade target since last season, when it became clear the Celtics were careening toward a financial reckoning and would need to shed salary,” Slater and Shelburne wrote.
“The Warriors struck up conversations with the Hawks about Porziņģis more than a month before February’s deadline, before Butler tore his ACL, viewing Porziņģis initially as a complementary finishing piece to a fringe contender.”
Porziņģis traveled with the team for its three-game, six-day highway journey that started with Golden State’s 115-113 thrilling time beyond regulation win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, indicating a optimistic register the fitting path for the 7-foot-2, 240-pound Latvian’s return.
