Adrian Wojnarowski: “Kawhi Leonard and Paul George Are Coming to the LA Clippers”

Kawhi Leonard will sign with the LA Clippers, who will also acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder via trade.

The saga about Kawhi Leonard’s future ended in the most unexpected way. Not because he chose the Clippers, but because of Paul George’s arrival to the City of Angels. Literally, nobody saw this coming. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the best NBA insider, these two are teaming up, and will soon become members of the LA Clippers.

In his first tweet, he revealed Kawhi’s intention to sign with the Clippers.

“Free agent forward Kawhi Leonard has informed runners-up teams of his plans: He’s signing with the Clippers, league sources tell ESPN.”

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

Just minutes later, another bomb came from his account.

“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,” Wojnarowski wrote.

This is a blockbusting move, which makes the Clippers frontrunners for winning the title. Los Angeles will now be the town with two biggest favorites for claiming the Larry O’Brien trophy, and rivalry between the Clippers and the Lakers got a whole new dimension.

Kawhi will sign a four-year deal worth $142 million, which is, of course, the maximum sum possible. According to Woj, the two players met earlier this week in Los Angeles, and arranged the whole deal. ESPN’s writer stated that Leonard wouldn’t have joined the Clippers without Paul George. He also said that the franchise from LA had to be aggressive and go all in, because of a possibility that Claw reaches an agreement with the Lakers and becomes a part of their Big 3.

Something like that might have been possible, but knowing Kawhi’s mentality, he would rather go back to Toronto than be in the shadow of LeBron James. With this move, the NBA Finals MVP got two things he wanted – came back home, and got his own team.

Now, George’s trade is a big deal, and there are many things involved in that. The Clippers are sending Danilo Gallinari and Shai Gilgeous Alexander to OKC, along with four first-round unprotected picks, one protected first-round, and two pick swaps.

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

Kawhi was in contact with PG the whole time, and after coming to a deal, the six-time All-Star requested a trade from the Thunder management. That left the OKC franchise stunned, and without too many options, but to accept what is on the table. Before the start of the previous season, George signed a four-year $137 million contract with Oklahoma, deciding to team up with Russell Westbrook in the quest for the title.

However, that didn’t produce any notable results; furthermore, it could be said that there were only frustrations involved, nothing positive.

Kawhi’s decision to sign with the Clippers had the first consequence already. His former teammate from the San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors, Danny Green left Canada too.

BREAKING: pic.twitter.com/oIPUwiFLmI

— Inside The Green Room (@GreenRoomInside) July 6, 2019

The veteran forward will sign a two-year deal with the Lakers worth $30 million. It is quite possible that LAL waited to see Leonard’s plans and to react after that. Green will be an excellent addition for the purple and gold, as he presents precisely what that team needed. Lethal three-point shooter, who is also an excellent defender, perhaps one of the best in the league.

It will be interesting to see what will Toronto Raptors now do. The entire future of this team depended upon Kawhi’s decision to stay. Now, they are without him and Green, which leaves a huge blank in their roster.