(Photo via Getty Images)
The February 5 2026 NBA trade deadline is still quite some time away, but the rumor mill is already starting to heat up— literally and figuratively.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation with the Milwaukee Bucks will assuredly be the most significant trade candidate monitored across the league. However, there are other more modest All-Star names expected to be available.
That list could include the likes of Trae Young, Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, LaMelo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.
When it comes to the LA Clippers, their disappointing start to the 2025-26 campaign has included a rocky 6-17 record. It has been speculated that their two stars in Harden and Leonard could both be on the move in order to shed salary. This would be in response to an unexpected losing season in Los Angeles. A fire sale of their top two players would help the Clippers avoid the repeater tax penalty. This could also help them get a clean slate on their cap sheet heading into next season.
And there is one team that has already been linked to six-time All-Star Leonard on the trade market, according to ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel: the Miami Heat.
“Should Miami be allowed by the NBA to utilize Terry Rozier’s expiring contract, they could theoretically package him with Andrew Wiggins and draft picks to pair Leonard with Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Norman Powell.”
— Brett Siegel (ClutchPoints)
Kawhi Leonard is averaging 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists on 49.4% shooting across 13 games this season.
Miami has come out to a strong start to begin this new campaign. However, their recent two-game losing skid— along with now losing three out of their last four— has shown that there are still some cracks. Granted, the Heat’s core three players in Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell and Tyler Herro have all been in-and-out of the lineup due to injury. Thus, rotations haven’t been consistent. But Leonard could pose as that perfect low-risk, high-reward type of acquisition. He can get this Heat team over the hump in a wide open Eastern Conference this season.
For the price of just Terry Rozier and Andrew Wiggins, Miami could double down on this year. They could really make a run with the addition of a proven two-time NBA champion and playoff riser in Leonard.
Financially, this type of package would give the cap flexibility that LA is seeking. Rozier’s near $27 million salary is a clean expiring. Wiggins is on a player option year, and he could also be expiring if he opts out to test free agency. One first-round draft pick or even a pair of second-round picks could be enough of a sweetener to get a deal done for the Heat.
Leonard’s availability concerns would give Miami essentially another Jimmy Butler situation. But as long as he is healthy when it matters the most come postseason, this type of acquisition could pay a lot of dividends. Especially considering how open the East is.
He is currently set to earn nearly $50 million annually. This is for each of the remainder of this 2025-26 campaign and next season. He will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2027.
At 34 years old, Leonard remains one of the NBA’s top talents when healthy. And he has proven that he is fully capable of leading a team to a championship. This is especially true with the supporting cast he would have around him still in South Beach.
Would a core four of Leonard, Adebayo, Herro and Powell be enough for a title? Let us know in the comments!
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Hey, somebody stole my list.
i think we get demar however
What u giving up for him ? And is he starting ?
Question: out of this list of Trae Young, Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, LaMelo Ball, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. If u could trade for one who would it be?
def not ball beard. kawhi ad zion hurt alot.jas a head case,if i had to choose one it would be kawhi
Agree.
Injury prone. From 2017-2018 he played 333 games (47.8 games per season). He played over 60 games only twice. Last year he played 37. $50M per year seems a bit much to pay for a half-time player. But that’s just me. I would prefer Giannis any day and twice on Sunday. Otherwise, stand pat until Pat can come up with a better solution.
Meanwhile, somebody needs to light a fire under Jovic’s @$$. Heat need a third big to rotate with Bam and Ware. If Jovic isn’t going to be that player, ship him, Herro and Rozier’s expiring contract out for best available options.
Only Kawhi makes sense.
Yes, I agree, he would put us over, plus we would be able to hold on to bam,ware,powell,davion,and possibly Wiggins.
None of the above. Injury prone and/or too much baggage, ego, ball hogging, old etc. Check out their injury histories.
Ngl I might do the trade, but I would rather give up terry,herro,jovic,Larsson and pick or 2.
Yes, the deal is not just Wiggins, we lose Andrew and a pick(s), and the value of Rozier, or whatever he brings, which could be used elsewhere. I’m not sure we got the best of the trade or improved enough if we do it that way. I like the idea of getting Leonard, just want to trade someone else for him. He is getting up there, but you could see against the Heat he’s still got skills.
He’s got skills, when healthy. For that matter, so does Zion. Heat needs two-way, healthy players. Not other teams’ rejects.