It's been a busy offseason for the Dallas Mavericks, and as they look forward to welcoming Morez Johnson Jr. to the organization, there's one bombshell report that fans are thinking of an idea in far left field.
Per Christian Clark, Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri has been interested in Kawhi Leonard, in what would be a dream reunion from their days with the Toronto Raptors during the 2018-19 season. With the Mavs going all-in on Cooper Flagg, anybody getting traded is on the table, and reportedly, names are already on the board.
"The Mavericks and LA Clippers have discussed a deal that would send the seven-time All-Star to Dallas for a package that would include P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and draft picks, said league sources granted anonymity to describe deliberations still in progress."
Mavs president Masai Ujiri is reportedly interested in Kawhi Leonard
This is why fans should be pumped about Ujiri as the president. He has connections all across the world, and he's got a special relationship with star players that he can use to his advantage. Leonard and Ujiri can make for a perfect dream reunion, and the two-time NBA champion would be an instant veteran voice to coach up Flagg.
Ujiri also loves going after athletic forwards, like OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. At least those are some of the names that he has drafted, but he went after Leonard to make for one of the greatest one-and-done championships in NBA history. Leonard, a longtime member of the Los Angeles Clippers, has every reason to be traded, and Ujiri is the perfect excuse.
From the Clippers' standpoint, they have Keaton Wagler to look forward to, who will be the team's future. For the Mavericks, he would've been the perfect piece as a versatile guard who can play multiple positions, but he's with the Clippers now. He also doesn't fit Leonard's timeline, and Ujiri can use that as another excuse to trade for Leonard.
Unfortunately, he's not the same Leonard from back in 2019, or even 2021, when he was torching the Mavs in the first round of the playoffs.
Leonard has suffered multiple knee injuries in recent years, and the Mavs have every right to be skeptical about that. He can still play as a defensive juggernaut when 100 percent healthy, but that's been hard to come by in recent years.
Klay Thompson and Daniel Gafford are names frequently mentioned in trade talks, and with Thompson no longer the final championship piece on a Luka Doncic-led team, the Mavericks have every excuse to get Leonard, and Ujiri, out of all people can definitely make it happen.
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