Some East teams may be lining up to acquire Leonard.
ESPN's NBA insiders recently put together a three-team mock trade that would send Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Detroit Pistons, and it might be the most interesting scenario of the four deals the network laid out for Leonard this offseason.
The Memphis Grizzlies would step in as a third party, and the whole thing reshapes all three rosters.
The Clippers wrapped up the 2025-26 season at 42-40 before getting bounced from the play-in by the Golden State Warriors.
Leonard is entering the final year of his deal at $50.3 million for 2026-27, and he becomes an unrestricted free agent after that.
If the two sides cannot agree on an extension this summer, the Clippers could be looking at the trade market before they lose him for nothing.
What It Looks Like
Under the deal, Detroit lands Leonard along with a 2029 second-round pick from Memphis via Portland.
The Clippers get back Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, Ronald Holland II, first-round picks from Detroit in 2027 and 2029, and a 2031 second-round pick from Memphis.
The Grizzlies, who went 25-57 this season, pick up backup center Paul Reed from the Pistons.
The salary math works on paper.
Robinson and LeVert are both on expiring contracts, and their combined salaries plus Holland's rookie deal come close enough to matching Leonard's $50 million cap hit to make the deal go through.
That also gives the Clippers roster flexibility heading into 2027-28.
Why the Clippers Do It
Leonard had maybe the best individual season of his career, averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 65 games while shooting 50.5 percent from the field.
But the Clippers already moved James Harden and Ivica Zubac at the deadline, and their first-round pick situation is rough going forward since they do not control one until 2030 because of the Paul George trade.
Trading Leonard would bring back two future first-rounders and a young wing in Holland, giving the franchise some real pieces to develop alongside Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin.
Why They Don't
Lawrence Frank has said the plan is to win with Leonard, and multiple reports suggest Leonard has no desire to leave Inglewood.
The Pistons' package might also fall short of what the Warriors, Heat, or Rockets could put together.
From Detroit's perspective, the Pistons finished 60-22 as the top seed in the East but are currently battling just to survive the first round against Orlando.
Cade Cunningham averaged 23.9 points and 9.9 assists during the regular season, and pairing him with Leonard would create a real championship-caliber duo.
But giving up two first-rounders and Holland, who is only 20 and already flashing defensive potential, is a steep ask for a 34-year-old on an expiring contract.
If the Pistons get bounced early, though, the pressure to make a move like this only grows.