Kawhi Leonard did not see the Los Angeles Clippers’ trade-deadline strikes coming.
The staff had been taking part in a few of its greatest basketball in weeks, constructing actual momentum with none obvious issues. Then the entrance workplace modified course.
The Clippers traded away James Harden and Ivica Zubac, two gamers who had been central to their latest success. That call raised eyebrows across the NBA. Experiences surfaced later that a number of groups checked in on Leonard in the course of the closing hour earlier than the deadline.
The Clippers weren’t shifting him. They understood his worth, no matter what a possible rebuild would possibly seem like down the road. Los Angeles introduced in Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, together with draft property.
These additions sparked hypothesis that the franchise was getting ready for all times after Leonard. The concept gained traction shortly.
However beat author Joey Linn not too long ago reported that Clippers president Lawrence Frank addressed Leonard’s future and opened the door to the opportunity of him staying in Los Angeles past his present deal.
“We undoubtedly see a situation the place he is a part of the group going ahead. Look — Kawhi when wholesome is arguably one of many top-5 gamers on this league. Nobody is taking part in higher than him over this final 7-week stretch. Just like what we did in different summers, we at all times get along with Kawhi and his representatives and we lay out what the plan is,” Frank stated.
“The primary precedence for Kawhi is similar primary precedence for the Clippers group. We need to win a championship. How will we do it collectively? That is what it seems to be like.”
