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Kevin O'Connor says Warriors still covet Kawhi Leonard: [Anthony] Slater goes on to write how 'Trey Murphy is the more obtainable wing for the Warriors to target.' He said 'The Pelicans have clung tightly to Trey Murphy, but league sources tell Slater that New Orleans has been signaling a desire to jump into the first round of the draft.' That last line is 150% true. The Pelicans are trying to get a pick in the top 20. The Warriors are definitely a team that we could see trade the number 11 pick to New Orleans for Trey Murphy. All that said though Tom, I do think the Warriors still want Kawhi Leonard. I still think the Warriors are still going for Kawhi Leonard. The Warriors still want Kawhi. Trey Murphy, as Anthony Slater says, seems to be just the more obtainable guy, but I don't think this Warriors' love for Kawhi Leonard has declined at all.
But team sources continue to indicate he's the type of established wing talent they would pursue in a win-now maneuver, depending on the price point. The problem: League sources said Ballmer has maintained a firm stance against a Leonard trade, preferring to continue building around his star forward.
I've been told by various sources that — in addition to the LA Clippers' Kawhi Leonard and Memphis' Ja Morant — Wizards point guard Trae Young has emerged as another "big fish" backup option for the Miami Heat in the event that Boston, Portland or some other team manages to outbid Pat Riley and Co. in the trade chase for Antetokounmpo.
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HoopsHype: Jalen Brunson is the 47th-highest-paid player in the NBA this season. Kawhi Leonard (2014) is the only Finals MVP since 2007 who ranked lower in season earnings. FWIW: None of the last four Finals MVPs ranked in the Top 30 in NBA salaries when they won the award.
Jon Krawczynski: If I were to handicap all of the possibilities out there, I do think that Giannis is a really hard one to pull off. I think Kyrie is a more realistic possibility. You are hearing some other names start to just get kind of thrown around the rumor mill. You're hearing Kawhi Leonard. You're hearing maybe a little bit of Jalen Suggs, a few other names.
NBA Courtside: Draymond Green on apologizing to Jalen Brunson for saying he’s not a 1A guy in the NBA: “The reason I said that is because I’ve been very critical of Jalen Brunson just not thinking that, hey man, he’s this 1A guy that and here’s the thing what y’all have to understand about me. When I say 1A, when I say 1A, what I’m saying is no matter what you go to, you’re the guy. Allah Steph Curry, Allah LeBron James, Allah Luka Doncic, Kawhi, like there’s only really five to seven 1As in all of the NBA. And so it’s never like a shot like y’all try to make at it Jalen Brunson. I just think there’s only like five of those guys that no matter what team you put them on, they’re the best. That’s 1A to me. That’s 1A. Needless to say, I’ve been very critical. And I think he last night take a 3-1 lead I think. I think they’re on their way to a championship. And I am not somebody who can’t say they’re wrong.” (Via @DraymondShow)
But Pat Riley and the Heat aren’t just watching defensively—they are actively plotting an aggressive counter-offensive. According to internal league sources, if a deal can be struck to bring the Greek Freak to South Beach, Giannis would sign an extension instantaneously with the Heat. He views Miami’s culture as a pristine tactical fit capable of extending his championship window indefinitely. To weaponize this pursuit, Miami is quietly evaluating who they can liquidate to assemble the ultimate asset puzzle. The goal is singular: preserve superstar big man Bam Adebayo at all costs to form a devastating two-way frontcourt. Sources indicate that high-level organizational discussions in Miami have even floated the name of Los Angeles Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard as a potential high-leverage piece in a multi-team framework to inject the ultimate championship punch alongside a Giannis-Bam pairing.
When asked whether he would ever consider playing in Greece, Leonard did not rule out the possibility. "I don't know. Maybe. Maybe it can be one of my kids, if they can't make it in the NBA, but you never know," he said.
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Olympiacos point guard Cory Joseph and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard reconnected over dinner in Athens, where the NBA star is currently spending his offseason vacation. The veteran players share a deep friendship that spans more than a decade, having both entered the league together as first-round picks in the 2011 NBA Draft, presented by Kia Motors. The Klaw was initially drafted 15th overall before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs, while Joseph joined him in Texas after being selected by the franchise at the 29th spot.
Danny Green on Uncle Dennis' influence on Kawhi Leonard leaving San Antonio: I think his Uncle had a lot of what to do, what’s going on off the court, a lot of influence. I think once his Uncle saw some distasteful things in his mind. It was like, “Alright we not doing this.” Because San Antonio they don’t treat nobody like superstars and I think his Uncle kind of rightfully so, you know what I’m saying? should have been treated like a superstar.
LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and his uncle and business adviser Dennis Robertson have been interviewed by NBA investigators amid the league's probe into allegations the team circumvented the salary cap to compensate Leonard, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the investigation. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and other team executives have also sat for interviews, those sources said, as have executives for Aspiration, the now-defunct green banking company at the center of the allegations.
Privately, some Clippers officials have grown frustrated trying to prove innocence for a violation that they say they didn't commit, according to several sources with knowledge of their thinking. Despite their certainty that they did nothing wrong, team officials seem less certain about the outcome of the high-profile investigation or whether the league's richest owner will face punishment, the sources said.
