2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Kawhi Leonard: 3 years, $103 million (Los Angeles Clippers)
Free agent forward Kawhi Leonard will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 6, 2019
Kawhi Leonard has signed his Los Angeles Clippers contract — a three-year, $103M maximum contract with a player option in the third season, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 10, 2019
After nearly a week of speculation and deliberate decision-making, Kawhi Leonard shocked the NBA world by not only choosing the Los Angeles Clippers, but recruiting Paul George to join him in L.A. by forcing his way out of the Oklahoma City Thunder with a blockbuster trade.
Gone are Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and five protected draft picks, plus the right to swap picks in two other years, but L.A. is now adding a finalist for the regular season MVP award and the reigning Finals MVP. As for Kawhi himself, obviously an addition such is impressive enough on its own.
The Clippers were already a resilient squad that won 48 games and far surpassed “plucky” territory in stealing not one, but two games from the mighty Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. They now add one of the most impactful players in the league who just rattled off one of the best individual postseason runs in NBA history.
This not only keeps the Clippers on par with their Staples Center counterparts, but vaults them into the contender category in a wide open league. It’s a testament to the culture owner Steve Ballmer and executive Jerry West are building, and validation for everything this fun squad proved last year. Even without the unexpected and thrilling Paul George trade, this addition would deserve top marks. The only reason this isn’t the highest grade possible is it’s a two-year deal with a third-year player option.
Grade: A