Ranking 3 best Kawhi Leonard trade destinations if Clippers blow it up
The grand opening of the Intuit Dome was supposed to signal a new era of dominance for the LA Clippers. Instead, as we approach December 2025, the $2 billion arena is hosting a nightmare. Sitting at 5-13, the Clippers look less like contenders and more like a cautionary tale. With James Harden shouldering a massive load and an aging roster struggling to keep pace, the front office faces a terrifying reality: the Oklahoma City Thunder own their 2026 first-round pick, unprotected.
If Steve Ballmer decides to pull the plug on this iteration of the team to salvage long-term assets, Kawhi Leonard becomes the market’s most fascinating wild card. Here are the three best landing spots.
1. Golden State Warriors
The timeline for Stephen Curry is now or never. After missing out on major swings in previous offseasons, the Warriors are hovering around .500 and need a legitimate second alpha. Golden State has the perfect trade chip in Jonathan Kuminga, whose youth and athleticism are exactly what the Clippers need to restart. A healthy Leonard next to Curry gives the Warriors the half-court isolation scorer they desperately lack, potentially reopening a championship window that looked firmly shut.
2. Miami Heat
Pat Riley has been hunting a "whale" to pair with Bam Adebayo for years. The "Heat Culture" fit is cliché but accurate; Leonard’s two-way intensity mirrors Miami’s ethos perfectly. With the Jimmy Butler era showing signs of wear, Miami needs a seamless transition to a new superstar wing. The Heat have their future first-round picks (2028-2032) available to trade, offering the Clippers the draft capital they currently lack.
3. Houston Rockets
If the Clippers want immediate young talent rather than distant picks, Houston is the call. The Rockets are loaded with assets and are eager to accelerate their timeline under Ime Udoka. A package centered around their surplus of young wings or the Phoenix Suns' draft picks they control could offer the Clippers the quickest path to a rebuild. For Houston, adding a veteran Kawhi to a young, defensive-minded core could turn them into a legitimate Western Conference threat overnight.
If Steve Ballmer decides to pull the plug on this iteration of the team to salvage long-term assets, Kawhi Leonard becomes the market’s most fascinating wild card. Here are the three best landing spots.
1. Golden State Warriors
The timeline for Stephen Curry is now or never. After missing out on major swings in previous offseasons, the Warriors are hovering around .500 and need a legitimate second alpha. Golden State has the perfect trade chip in Jonathan Kuminga, whose youth and athleticism are exactly what the Clippers need to restart. A healthy Leonard next to Curry gives the Warriors the half-court isolation scorer they desperately lack, potentially reopening a championship window that looked firmly shut.
2. Miami Heat
Pat Riley has been hunting a "whale" to pair with Bam Adebayo for years. The "Heat Culture" fit is cliché but accurate; Leonard’s two-way intensity mirrors Miami’s ethos perfectly. With the Jimmy Butler era showing signs of wear, Miami needs a seamless transition to a new superstar wing. The Heat have their future first-round picks (2028-2032) available to trade, offering the Clippers the draft capital they currently lack.
3. Houston Rockets
If the Clippers want immediate young talent rather than distant picks, Houston is the call. The Rockets are loaded with assets and are eager to accelerate their timeline under Ime Udoka. A package centered around their surplus of young wings or the Phoenix Suns' draft picks they control could offer the Clippers the quickest path to a rebuild. For Houston, adding a veteran Kawhi to a young, defensive-minded core could turn them into a legitimate Western Conference threat overnight.
