Could a Kawhi Leonard trade be worth the risk for contending teams?

Simmons mentioned the Detroit Pistons, while Mahoney wondered about the Cleveland Cavaliers, but do these landing spots make sense? And are there any other situations where Leonard could thrive or be the missing piece to the puzzle?

What's most intriguing is that the 34-year-old has shown glimpses of his three-time All-NBA first-team form through 14 games this season, averaging 25.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 3.0 APG while shooting 49.2% from the field and 39% from three.

Kawhi Leonard trade could work, given the right situation

Leonard’s three-year, $149,505,800 contract that expires after the 2026-27 season won’t be an easy move, but there are some contenders that could not only make it work, but also where he could be a good fit.

The Pistons, who Simmons mentioned, are capable of figuring out the money by including Tobias Harris, Jaden Ivey and another contract into any deal. They could be a sneaky-good fit for the six-time All-Star, led by superstar guard Cade Cunningham (27.5 PPG, 9.3 APG) and a number of other young, talented players. All they need is another guy who can get a bucket to take some of the pressure off Cunningham, which Leonard clearly can still do when healthy.

Cleveland is another possible destination, but one Eastern Conference team might make more sense than anyone is the Miami Heat (14-11). The combination of Andrew Wiggins and Terry Rozier’s contracts, along with draft picks, would allow them to successfully acquire Leonard. (However, Rozier's FBI gambling investigation complicates matters.)

Put him on an Erik Spoelstra-coached team with other All-Star-caliber players like center Bam Adebayo (19.2 PPG, 9.0 RPG), shooting guard Tyler Herro (23.2 PPG) and a surging guard/forward Norman Powell (24.6 PPG), and the Heat become that much more dangerous. Not to mention, Leonard is known to be a fan of warm weather, which Miami can certainly provide him.

Even Atlanta or a reunion in Toronto, where he had one of the most productive and healthiest seasons of his career (26.6 PPG) and won a championship, is possible and intriguing.

There are a lot of obstacles that stand in the way of any potential Leonard trade, but when you take a deeper dive into it, there actually are a handful of scenarios that could make sense for all parties.