LA Clippers: Grading their signings in NBA free agency
LA Clippers’ free agency signing No. 4: Kawhi Leonard
When Leonard declined his option for the 2021-22 season, this was actually a really good thing for the Clippers. There is a possibility that he will not play a great deal in the coming season. He would have entered free agency next season and anything could have happened.
Extending Leonard until the end of the 2024-25 season was the sensible thing for the Clippers to do. The final year of this deal is a player option but this is the power of being one of the best players on the planet, you can demand a player option at the end of any deal.
The Clippers are going to struggle to stay competitive this season without their team leader. They will rely heavily on Paul George and the supporting cast but in a very competitive Western Conference, the Clippers will probably see themselves slip down the standings.
However, this will not be a problem when Leonard comes back. He has helped two franchises to NBA titles and has a true passion to lead his hometown Clippers to a title as well. As long as his body holds up, it would take a brave man to bet against Leonard achieving this goal.
Grade: A+