What would the Dallas Mavericks have to give up to get Kawhi Leonard?
The Dallas Mavericks are thinking about acquiring Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, according to a report by the Athletic.
The proposed deal would send Leonard to the Mavericks in exchange for PJ Washington, Klay Thompson and draft picks.
Washington has spent the past three seasons in Dallas and has turned into a fan favorite after helping propel the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals after being acquired from the Charlotte Hornets.
Thompson is headed into his third season in Dallas. Initially acquired as a shooter to play alongside Luka Dončić, the former Golden State Warriors sharpshooter struggled last year with the lowest scoring average (11.7 points per game) of his career.
If the trade were to happen, it would be a reunion between Leonard and Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri, who worked together in 2019 when they won the NBA Finals with the Toronto Raptors, with Leonard taking home Finals MVP.
Leonard has spent the past seven years with the Clippers, but has struggled with injuries, playing 65 games or more only twice during his tenure. He missed the 2021-22 season entirely.
When Leonard does play, he’s still among the best in the NBA, evident by his second team All-NBA selection last season after putting up 27. 9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He only has one year remaining on his deal before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
The move would create one of the Western Conference’s most talented threesomes, with Leonard joining Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. However, Irving, who is coming off a torn ACL, and Leonard after oft-injured, and Flagg has yet to compete in the NBA playoffs.
Acquiring Leonard would signal a desire to immediately compete for an NBA title as opposed to a rebuilding around Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year.
The Mavericks are coming off a 26-56 season that saw them miss the playoff for the second straight year.
