Multiple teams reportedly willing to trade for Leonard! U.S. media lists three potential destinations: Warriors could land him in a 3-for-1 deal

As of June 3, Beijing time, in the coming weeks, Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the most talked-about player in NBA trade rumors, yet only one franchise will end up with him. After that trade is finalized, teams that failed to land Giannis could pivot to another star forward who finds himself in an ever more uncomfortable position with his current squad: Kawhi Leonard. According to Fischer, Leonard is expected to be involved in various trade discussions this summer.

Leonard played 65 games this season, averaging 27.9 points per contest and earning a spot on the All-NBA Second Team, yet the Clippers still failed to make the 2026 playoffs. In his seven seasons with the Clippers, the team has never truly contended for a championship, and Los Angeles has every reason to move him, especially with his $50.3 million contract expiring soon.

He will soon turn 35, has an extensive injury history, and carries significant risk. However, if the Clippers put him on the trading block, multiple teams would be willing to make a move, as acquiring him would immediately boost short-term title aspirations. Bleacher Report has identified three potential destinations that show the most interest and feasibility.

Option 1: Warriors acquire Leonard in a 3-for-1 swap

Clippers receive: Jimmy Butler, the 11th pick, and a 2031 first-round pick swap

Warriors receive: Kawhi Leonard

Butler suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in January and will likely miss all or most of the 2026-27 season. With Stephen Curry nearing the end of his career, the Warriors simply cannot afford to carry a $56.8 million contract on their books for a player who won't suit up all year.

Moving Butler's expiring contract is one of the most logical moves this summer, and pairing it with some draft assets should be enough to convince the Clippers to agree.

This deal wouldn't provide the Clippers with immediate help for a championship push this season, but the team is already far from true title contention, so that impact is negligible.

Compared to Leonard's one-year rental, the potential of a rookie from this draft class plus a future draft asset is more beneficial for a core built around Garland, Mathurin (assuming he re-signs), and Nixhauser.

From Golden State's perspective: giving up a high lottery pick and another pick swap five years down the line for a 35-year-old injury-prone player seems like a steep price. But objectively, Leonard met his games-played threshold last season and made an All-NBA team.

No one can guarantee he'll replicate that level, but if he plays at 95% of his prime, he and Curry would form one of the most lethal duos in the Western Conference.

The outside world won't view this Warriors team as a favorite like San Antonio or Oklahoma City, but they would have a fighting chance against any opponent.

Option 2: Heat acquire Leonard in a 3-for-2 deal

Clippers receive: Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, and Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Heat receive: Kawhi Leonard and Derrick Jones Jr.

Miami has long been interested in pursuing Giannis, but the competition is fierce. If the Heat's offer falls short, pivoting to a smaller package for Leonard becomes a viable backup plan.

This trade would raise the overall age of Miami's roster, but Leonard elevates the team's ceiling far beyond what Herro, Wiggins, and Jaquez can provide. And in this deal, the Heat don't just get one new player.

Jones Jr. is no mere throw-in: he is one of the league's most athletic players, averaging double-digit points in under 28 minutes per game over the past two seasons, with three-point shooting that commands defensive attention.

Leonard plus Jones Jr., combined with a frontcourt anchored by Ware and Bam Adebayo, would create a defensive unit that Eastern Conference opponents would dread facing.

For the Clippers, this deal lacks the draft-pick advantage of the Warriors' offer, but it preserves competitiveness for the 2026-27 season and beyond while also injecting youth into the roster.

Acquiring Herro would also allow the Clippers to more comfortably let Mathurin walk; Jaquez, a Southern California native, brings regional appeal. This addition provides Garland and Nixhauser with multiple wing options whose development timelines align well with Garland's.

Option 3: Pistons acquire Leonard in a 5-for-1 swap

Clippers receive: Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert, Ron Holland, and a 2031 first-round pick

Pistons receive: Kawhi Leonard

This deal represents the best fit for Leonard: compared to the Warriors and Heat, the Pistons would place the least demand on his workload.

The Warriors have Curry, and the Heat have Adebayo as cornerstones, but Curry is a 38-year-old veteran, and Adebayo isn't known for initiating offense (even though he once scored 83 points in a game, that fact remains true).

In Detroit, Leonard would pair with Cade Cunningham, the league's premier young playmaker who turns 25 soon. Cunningham can consistently create open looks for Leonard, while Leonard can relieve the heavy offensive burden Cunningham has long carried.

Without losing restricted free agent Jalen Duren this summer, a trio of Cunningham, Leonard, and Duren would form a highly potent group in the East.

Although trading away Ron Holland and Stewart would cost the team the tough, "Bad Boys" identity of old, Leonard's composed and seasoned defensive skills are enough to offset that loss.

For the Clippers, they receive a promising young prospect in Holland (who turns 21 this summer), three veteran role players to support Garland and maintain current performance, plus a future high-value first-round pick that would likely convey only after Leonard's probable retirement.