11:03 pm | July 5, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
Free-agent forward Kawhi Leonard has informed the runner-up teams of his plans: He’s signing with the LA Clippers, league sources told ESPN on Friday night.
The Clippers also are set to acquire All-Star forward Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder for a record-setting collection of draft choices, sources said.
Leonard, as expected, will sign a four-year, $142 million maximum contract, sources told ESPN.
He had held meetings with three teams he planned to sit down with in free agency, according to sources. He met with the Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors over the past week, with Toronto receiving the final meeting, sources said.
Oklahoma City will be getting a massive package of future picks as well as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari to deliver Leonard the player with whom he wanted to partner — George, according to sources.
The Clippers will be sending the Thunder four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick and two pick swaps, league sources told ESPN.
Leonard has been recruiting George to find a way to get to the Clippers, and the two met in Los Angelees earlier in the week, sources said. The Clippers had long been front-runners for Leonard, but it is unlikely he would’ve made the final leap to sign without the trade for George, according to sources.
In the end, 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 his message clear to owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank: Get George, and I’m coming.
After Leonard pushed George in that direction, George approached the Thunder and requested a trade, sources said. Oklahoma City was left with no choice and made the best of a difficult situation, according to sources.
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