The biggest fish in the NBA Free Agency market has made up his mind with Kawhi Leonard announcing he’s signing a max four-year, $142 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Leonard’s decision had the entire basketball world furiously refreshing its social media feeds waiting for an announcement.
After Free Agency opened the deals came in thick and fast, but Leonard wasn’t going to be rushed and held off as the moratorium approached.
Yahoo’s Chris Haynes broke the news of Leonard’s signing.
But while the confirmation of Leonard’s signing sent basketball fans wild, it was what came next that almost broke the internet.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Clippers had engaged in a shock trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for All-Star forward Paul George.
The deal involves the Clippers sending Oklahoma Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari along with four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick and two pick swaps.
Wojnarowski reported Leonard and George met in LA earlier in the week and the Clippers knew they had to broker a deal to land the superstar.
ESPN also reported Leonard pushed George to join him at the Clippers, with the latter then requesting a trade out of Oklahoma City. The bombshell move comes after reports George and OKC teammate Russell Westbrook began to have issues with one another, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The Clippers were locked in a three-way race against their crosstown rival the Lakers, along with the Toronto Raptors, to secure Leonard’s services.
Many pundits over the past several days had ruled out the Clippers after several big name free agents made their decisions. But in a stunning reversal and one that shook the NBA to its core, the Clippers landed the biggest name on the market.
While the Lakers missed out on Leonard, the franchise still made some moves as it looks to bolster a roster led by LeBron James.
Shortly after the Leonard announcement dropped, the Lakers signed his former San Antonio Spurs and Raptors teammate Danny Green to a two-year, $30 million deal.
“Kawhi has made his decision. Seems like the announcement is out,” Green said in a video he posted to his social media accounts. “It’s time for me to make my announcement ... I will be teaming up with new teammates in LA, the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Centre JaVale McGee, who joined the Lakers last season on a one-year deal, also recommitted with the team on a two-year, $8.2 million contract, per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Shelburne also reported Leonard’s camp asked the Lakers to delay a trade that would bring wantaway New Orleans star Anthony Davis to the West Coast but after joining the Clippers, it’s expected Davis and the Lakers will agree to terms.
The frenzy sent social media into meltdown.
Leonard averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during the 2018-19 regular season, before taking his game to a new level in the postseason to lead the Raptors to a championship and claiming Finals MVP honours in the process.
George averaged 28 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game with the Thunder over the 2018-19 season.
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