The L.A. Clippers transfer into their new area subsequent season. They will have a minimum of one famous person on board.
Kawhi Leonard, the centerpiece for the Clippers since his signing in the summertime of 2019, has agreed to a three-year, $153 million extension that may hold him in a Clippers uniform.
The star ahead and two-time Finals MVP is having his healthiest and best season in years, taking part in in 32 of the Clippers’ 36 video games thus far and averaging 23.8 factors, 6.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals per sport.
Of their remaining season taking part in within the Crypto.com Area, the Clippers have a trio of stars taking part in within the remaining 12 months of their contracts. Leonard and Paul George have participant choices for 2024-25, and newly acquired James Harden’s contract is expiring. Now, Los Angeles is aware of that Leonard a minimum of is sticking with the group long-term.
In keeping with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the group desires to increase George as nicely.
It is a high-risk, high-reward transfer for the Clippers. When wholesome, Leonard is likely one of the NBA’s finest gamers, and presumably its finest two-way participant. He is a extremely environment friendly offensive participant, making 55.6 % of his two-pointers, 43 % of his threes and 87.1 % of his free throws. On protection, the Clippers permit 11.4 fewer factors per 100 possessions when Leonard is on the court docket.
After beginning the season 3-7, together with 4 straight losses after buying and selling for Harden, the Clippers have gone 20-6 and established themselves as title contenders. The group has all the time been superb when George and Leonard have been wholesome because the group signed Leonard and traded for George 4 years in the past. They’ve simply missed a number of video games.
Leonard tore his ACL throughout the playoffs in 2021 and tore his meniscus throughout final 12 months’s first spherical. L.A. made the convention finals with out him, however Leonard missed the complete 2021-22 season, whereas George missed 51 video games. Final 12 months, it was George who missed the playoffs with an damage, whereas Leonard was damage in Recreation 2 of the primary spherical.
However the Clippers’ most suitable choice has all the time been banking on their stars getting wholesome. Due to the offers for George and Harden, the group does not management its first-round decide till 2030, owing them to Oklahoma Metropolis or Philadelphia in trades or decide swaps each season. That additionally means the Clippers haven’t got the draft capital to commerce for substitute stars.
The Clips have each incentive to win now, particularly upfront of opening a brand new area in Los Angeles, the place they’re nowhere close to as common because the Lakers. It could be dangerous to guess on Kawhi Leonard’s well being, however letting him go away in free company can be even riskier.
