Kawhi Leonard could become one of the biggest names available this offseason as trade discussions around the Los Angeles Clippers continue to gain momentum.
The 35-year-old is entering the final season of the three-year extension he signed with the Clippers in January 2024 and is scheduled to earn $50.3 million next season.
With Los Angeles facing financial pressure above the salary cap, rival teams are beginning to explore whether Leonard could become available.
The Dallas Mavericks are among the teams showing interest in the two-time NBA Finals MVP, according to reporting from The Athletic. The proposed framework would reportedly include Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and draft compensation heading to Los Angeles.
A move to Dallas would reunite Leonard with Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, who famously acquired him while running the Toronto Raptors front office in 2018. That gamble resulted in an NBA championship and Leonard earning Finals MVP during his lone season in Toronto.
Toronto may also have interest in bringing Leonard back.
NBA reporter Jake Fischer reported that Leonard would be willing to sign a contract extension with the Raptors if a deal could be reached. However, the negotiations may depend on which players Toronto is willing to include.
The Raptors would prefer to move Brandon Ingram rather than RJ Barrett in any potential trade package. Ingram averaged 21.2 points per game last season while Barrett contributed 19.3 points per contest.
Leonard is coming off one of the strongest offensive seasons of his career, averaging a personal-best 27.9 points while shooting 57 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range.
Not every contender appears to be an option, however.
Marc Stein reported that Leonard is not interested in signing an extension with the Detroit Pistons, despite their need for another star alongside Cade Cunningham following a 60-win season.
The San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets have also been connected to Leonard through league speculation, although reporting around those teams has been limited.