Warriors rumor has $149 million two-time Defensive Player of the Year as realistic trade target

Warriors rumor has $149 million two-time Defensive Player of the Year as realistic trade target originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The more realistic trade targets on the Golden State Warriors' radar this summer, the better.

Of course, Milwaukee Bucks 10-time All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ultimate prize for the Dubs. That said, having several options to choose from would give the franchise extreme comfort as it enters a make-or-break offseason.

A recent report indicates that a two-time Defensive Player of the Year is among the assets the Warriors could land in a blockbuster deal.

"The (Los Angeles) Clippers and Kawhi (Leonard) are in a bit of a different lifecycle,” The Stein Line Jake Fischer reported Tuesday. “Kawhi is going to be wanting to compete for a championship.

“The Clippers are definitely now thinking more towards the future than they ever have in the Steve Ballmer era. Golden State is certainly one of the teams that I think we’re going to be looking at as a Kawhi suitor."

Leonard was deemed a legitimate trade option for the Warriors earlier this season. The Clippers possessed a sub. 500 record around the Feb. 5 trade deadline and were rumored to blow things up by parting ways with their superstar two-way forward.

Los Angeles did shake up their roster before the deadline. However, neither of the trades they completed featured Leonard (the Clippers traded Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers for Kobe Brown, Benedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, and draft capital, and James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and draft capital).

Following a season-ending 126-121 Play-In loss to the Warriors, though, it appears as though the Clippers are less reluctant to entertain the idea of moving on from Leonard.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP was magnificent for the Clippers on both ends this season when healthy, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, while shooting 50.5% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range.

Needless to say, the Warriors should continue paying close attention to Leonard’s situation in Los Angeles.

More NBA news:

• Lakers urged to cut ties with struggling $18 million guard who reportedly requested trade
• NBA insider reveals Luka Doncic reason Lakers could lose Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes
• Lakers-Wizards trade pitch sends $186 million 10-time All-Star, NBA champion back to Los Angeles