2 Giannis Antetokounmpo trade suitors call out Clippers about Kawhi Leonard

Amid trade talks across the league, the Milwaukee Bucks, with All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo in mind, have reportedly inquired about trading with the Los Angeles Clippers for Kawhi Leonard. In the final hours before the trade deadline, the Bucks were a last-minute contender for Leonard. The Clippers ultimately retained Kawhi for the remainder of the season, but his future beyond 2025–26 remains uncertain.

According to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, a Clippers offseason trade for Leonard could still be on the horizon.

“There were two teams in particular that were pursuing Giannis that called the Clippers about Kawhi Leonard and checked on his availability,” Siegel said. “If he’s still on the Clippers roster in the summer and his contract isn’t voided, he’s going to be entering the last year of his deal, I believe it’s something like $50.3 million.

“Regardless of how old he is, as long as he’s healthy, it will be looked at like another scenario from when the Spurs traded him to the Toronto Raptors. This is the last year of his contract. He can still be a big part on a championship team, even if years later. We saw what Kawhi Leonard can do.”

No one expected James Harden’s trade request in the midst of the team’s most successful regular season run. Then, the Clippers’ trade with the Indiana Pacers for Ivica Zubac prompted other teams to call about Leonard.

Could Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard return to Raptors?

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard was the subject of trade rumors before the deadline, and is expected to be the case once again during the offseason, as noted by ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.

Siegel said, “It was then that the Toronto Raptors traded for Leonard, without knowing what the future held for him in free agency. That move led Toronto to their first NBA championship.”

“Something similar could happen with Leonard this upcoming offseason. Maybe, just maybe, the Raptors’ return to competing for another championship is a scenario we could see play out.”

Perhaps trade talks will resume in the offseason between the Raptors, who were reportedly interested in Ivica Zubac over the summer, or perhaps there will be a call from the Bucks.