Reinforcements might be approaching for Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors during the upcoming offseason. Rumors from NBA insider Marc Stein suggest the Warriors might attempt to secure Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James later this year.
It’s understood that the Warriors made an effort to trade for Leonard prior to the February 9th trade deadline, following the Los Angeles Clippers’ transaction sending James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers. The Clippers ultimately retained Leonard, integrating him with Darius Garland, who was secured by the team through the Harden deal.
Holding a 39-36 record, the Clippers presently occupy the eighth position in the Western Conference standings and have not progressed beyond the initial playoff round since the 2020-2021 campaign. As the Clippers transitioned from an aging squad to inject youthful talent at the deadline, the Warriors are anticipated to make another attempt to acquire Leonard via trade. This season, Leonard has recorded averages of 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, shooting 50.4% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc across 58 appearances.
Securing James might prove simpler for the Warriors compared to Leonard. The 41-year-old athlete is slated to enter free agency once the current season concludes. This year, James has posted averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 assists, and 6.0 rebounds. Should James opt to continue his playing career for an additional season, his compatibility with Curry and long-standing associate Draymond Green appears logical from both a gameplay and chronological standpoint. Furthermore, James has been associated with a potential comeback to Cleveland should he choose to depart from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Adding Leonard and James would provide the Warriors with seasoned perimeter players possessing title-winning backgrounds. Since their most recent championship victory in 2022, the team has not managed to reach the Western Conference finals. Following difficulties with integrating past first-round selections Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, and Jordan Poole, the Warriors shifted away from their dual-timeline strategy towards more experienced athletes like Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis. Butler has been sidelined since January with a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear, while Horford and Porzingis have encountered challenges remaining available for play due to various ailments and health issues.
This season, the Warriors have been heavily impacted by health setbacks. Curry has appeared in 29 contests this campaign, marking his lowest participation since the 2019-2020 season. He continues to be sidelined by a knee issue and is scheduled for reevaluation later this week. Curry maintains his high performance level when active, averaging 27.2 points and 4.8 assists, along with a 39.1% success rate from long range. Additionally, Moses Moody sustained a rupture to his left patellar tendon.
With a 36-38 record this season, the Warriors presently hold the 10th position in the Western Conference standings.
