Kawhi Leonard signs with the Clippers, will be joined by Paul George via trade
NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard has agreed to a 4 year/$142 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
In addition, Oklahoma City All-Star Paul George was traded to the Clippers moments after in a move orchestrated behind the scenes:
Free agent forward Kawhi Leonard has informed runners-up teams of his plans: He's signing with the Clippers, league sources tell ESPN.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Oklahoma City is trading All-Star Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a record-setting collection of draft choices, league sources tell ESPN.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Kawhi Leonard has been recruiting Paul George to find a way to get to the Clippers and LA pulled it off tonight: George goes to the Clippers with Leonard, and together they walk into Staples Center to go head-to-head with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
After Leonard pushed George to find a way to get to the Clippers, Paul George approached the team and requested a trade, league sources tell ESPN. OKC was left with no choice and made the best out of a difficult situation, per sources.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Rival NBA teams have been aware of the discontent of OKC's two stars: Paul George -- and Russell Westbrook, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Leonard pushed the Clippers in recent days to deliver him a second star, and they did.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2019
Sources: As expected, Kawhi Leonard: four-year, $142M maximum contract.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
In return for Paul George, the Thunder will receive a heap of draft picks along with Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:
Sources: Oklahoma City is getting a massive package of future picks, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Galllinari, to deliver Kawhi Leonard who he wanted to partner with: Paul George. https://t.co/4bGpMNat8K— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
The Clippers are sending the Thunder four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick and two pick swaps, league sources tell ESPN. Those picks go to OKC with Gallinari and SGA.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Kawhi met up with Paul George earlier this week, paving the way to the PG13 trade so that he would be able to play alongside another All-Star with the Clippers:
Sources: Leonard and George met in LA earlier in week. Clippers had long been frontrunners for Leonard, but it is unlikely he would've made final leap to sign without PG trade. Clippers imagined Leonard as part of a Lakers Big 3 --- and knew they had no choice. They did OKC deal.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
In the end, Kawhi Leonard didn't want to construct a Super Team with the Lakers. He wanted a co-star across the Staples corridor with the Clippers, and made it clear to Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank: Get PG, and I'm coming.— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
As Celtics fans, this is probably the best case scenario as Leonard departs the Eastern Conference, and opts to sign with the Lakers' in-town rivals instead of teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the purple and gold.
Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
