The Golden State Warriors are looking for an opportunity to build a dream team for the next season. But before finding younger talents, the front office is chasing veterans. Enter Kawhi Leonard. Well, the idea behind having a veteran and 2-time champion like him on the team is to bolster Stephen Curry’s dream of getting a 5th ring. But interestingly enough, this attraction toward the Klaw isn’t new for the Dubs.

Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard wrote: “Multiple league sources indicated this week that the Warriors were reasonably close to trading for Kawhi Leonard last February — apparently with much of the deal terms generally agreed to — before the Clippers ultimately decided to pull out of the talks.”

This comes after the 7x All-Star’s overall performance in 60 appearances in the 2025-26 season. Leonard averaged 28.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting an impressive 50.3% from the field. Despite these stats, the Clippers surprisingly decided to cut ties with the 34-year-old at the Feb 5 deadline, but ultimately kept him.

The Warriors’ interest could take a turn in the 2026 offseason. And that’s simply because pundits believe Leonard could attract potential suitors following his resurgent season with the LA Clippers in the ongoing season.

Now, when you think about it, the Golden State Warriors might need Leonard’s prowess a lot more than they can calculate. Look, he is in a similar spot as Steph Curry. By the 2026-27 season, the Clippers star will be 35. And that means his battle with Father Time will kick off. Retirement might knock at the door. Therefore, it only seems natural that Leonard is focusing on sharpening up to squeeze out one or two more championship runs.

And that’s exactly what players like Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler are aiming to do. Moreover, a Curry-Leonard duo could prove lethal. Add Butler to the soup, and they might actually have a backcourt worth terrorizing the league once again. But Leonard comes with a hefty cost.

For 2026–27, Leonard carries a $50.3 M cap hit on a fully guaranteed $149.5 M deal with the Clippers, while the Dubs already sit at $273.7 M in total cap allocations — worst in the league. That leaves a brutal -$108.7 M cap space. Meanwhile, apron buffers stand at $27.02 M and $40.0 M. But if the Warriors can wait until 2027, then they could have a UFA Kawhi Leonard.

Therefore, the Warriors face a financial crunch and must ship out massive salaries, which makes any move incredibly complex. Meanwhile, many believe the front office is making attempts to delay Steve Kerr’s exit.

Steve Kerr’s fate is cloudy amidst the Kawhi Leonard hope

A lot depends on Stephen Curry in the Golden State Warriors organization. Will the team reach the playoffs? How will the Curry-Porzingis duo reflect on the court? And most importantly, where will the head coach, Steve Kerr, be next season? All of this depends on one person: Steph. However, no one will know the answers unless he returns to the floor.

But as Steph’s comeback has some clarity, attention naturally shifts to Kerr’s future, despite an elusive answer. The 60-year-old has stayed tight-lipped, offering no real clues and even sidestepping questions earlier this week. However, chances are that the Warriors will have Coach Kerr back leading from the sidelines next season.

But reports say the front office hasn’t held any serious conversation over Kerr’s contract since last July. He last signed a 2-year, $35 million extension in February 2024. At the same time, Coach Kerr hasn’t informed the organization whether he wants to come back. But if the front office does acquire Kawhi Leonard, then maybe the veteran coach could stay back for that 5th title run with Curry and Co.

So, the Warriors stand at a crossroads, and this call will define everything. Leonard is likely within their reach, but the path to acquiring him might require bold sacrifice. Thus, with the windows shrinking, Kerr’s future ties directly to this gamble. If the front office goes all in, the mission is clear. If it stalls, then this era risks fading without one final swing.