According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard will sign a four-year deal to join the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sources: As expected, Kawhi Leonard: four-year, $142M maximum contract.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
July 6, 2019 This comes following a week-long free agent process that included media tracking flights and SUVs during the negotiations.
Leonard played this past season with the NBA champion Toronto Raptors, where he was traded from the San Antonio Spurs. Leonard went on to lead the Raptors to their very first championship in franchise history, winning the Finals MVP after posting 30.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per-game in Toronto's 24 playoff games this season. Leonard also had 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per-game throughout his lone season in Toronto.
Leonard's decision to join the Clippers was also due to a massive trade to acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both George and Leonard are natives of the Los Angeles area, but Leonard did not want to join a potential super team in the Los Angeles Lakers, who already boast the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
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 The Clippers acquired George in a trade for five first round picks, two pick swaps and two players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari.
