Kawhi Leonard’s future with the Los Angeles Clippers continues to draw league-wide attention, but one report suggests the veteran star is not interested in joining the Detroit Pistons and would rather remain in Los Angeles.
Speaking on Run It Back, Zach Harper said Leonard’s preference is to stay with the Clippers despite outside interest. “They’re not gonna void his contract… Steve Ballmer doesn’t want to trade him. … He doesn’t want to play in Detroit. He wants to be in LA,” Harper said.
Leonard has become one of the biggest names being monitored ahead of the NBA offseason. Teams around the league have kept an eye on the situation as the 34-year-old enters the final season of his three-year, $149.5 million contract.
According to Kevin O’Connor, the Golden State Warriors remain one team with significant interest in acquiring Leonard. Golden State has also evaluated younger wing options, including Trey Murphy III, but O’Connor said the Warriors have not moved away from their pursuit of the Clippers star.
The Warriors’ interest comes after a difficult 2025-26 season in which they finished 37-45 and entered the Western Conference Play-In Tournament as the No. 10 seed. Golden State finished 27 games behind the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder and missed a deeper postseason run.
Leonard, meanwhile, continued to produce at an elite level when healthy. He averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 65 games while shooting 50.5% from the field, 38.7% from three-point range and 89.2% from the free-throw line.
The Clippers finished 42-40 and earned a Play-In spot in the Western Conference, falling short of the top contenders in a conference that featured six teams with at least 49 wins.
Detroit has also been connected to Leonard speculation, but the Pistons’ position as an emerging Eastern Conference contender makes any potential fit complicated. Detroit finished the 2025-26 regular season with a league-best 60-22 record before advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
For the Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer’s reported desire to keep Leonard remains a major factor. Any trade would require a significant return and a willing partner, while Leonard’s own preference could influence how the situation develops.
