Kawhi Leonard has been eligible for an extension for the past six months, and Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank never had any doubt that a deal would get done, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. L.A. signed the star forward to a three-year, $152.4MM extension on Wednesday that will keep him under contract through the 2026/27 season.
“We knew this union was going to happen,” Frank told reporters before Wednesday’s game. “We both wanted it to happen and we came to an agreement.”
Frank added that there was “no hesitation” about making such a large commitment to a player with a long injury history who is in 30s. Leonard has dispelled some of those physical concerns this season by playing in the Clippers’ first 27 games and 32 of 36 overall. The team is 13-1 with him in the lineup since the start of December and he’s putting up All-Star numbers over that stretch, averaging 26.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per night while shooting 57% from the field and 48% from long distance.
Lawrence added that Leonard’s willingness to accept less that the full amount he was eligible to receive — approximately $220MM over four years — will help the organization in upcoming negotiations with Paul George and James Harden.
“In order to win, you need to be able to have flexibility to have really good teammates,” Frank said. “And in order to do that, there’s sacrifices that need to be made. And what I love what I’ve heard from our guys, what Kawhi has shown is … we want everyone to be compensated fairly and yet also preserve flexibility to both in the short and long term have contending rosters.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Leonard’s extension with the Clippers includes a 15% trade kicker, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
- Coaches and players throughout the league are recognizing the job that Clippers coach Tyronn Lue has done in making all the pieces mesh after the early-season trade for Harden, per Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. Lue guided the team through a rough stretch after Harden arrived and found a way to build an effective offense around numerous players who are used to having the ball in their hands. “He was giving us confidence, he was telling us this is not going to last for a long time, that we’re going to figure out, figure out how we want to play both ways. (He kept saying) it’s going to happen, and he was the one that was preaching that from the start, and we trusted it,” Ivica Zubac said. “Now we’re playing at a high level, and everyone is really confident. We know what we want to do, and it’s been a big time for him.”
- Whenever Draymond Green resumes playing, he hopes to cut out the antics that have already led to two extended suspensions this season, relays Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Green addressed his behavior Tuesday at a news conference that marked his return to Warriors practice. “I’ve cost my team enough. I’ve cost this organization enough,” he said. Green will accompany the team on its upcoming trip and may return to action in one of the road games, Andrews tweets.
- Suns star Kevin Durant clarified that he intended “no ill will” when he said last month that he hopes Green “gets the help that he needs” following “incident after incident,” per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
Warriors need to break this up at the trade deadline. There’s no two ways about it. How do you lose to the Pelicans by 40 at home? This is embarrassing.
Agreed. Steph deserves so much better than this. Send him elsewhere for his own good.
Imagine the haul the Warriors would get for Steph Curry right now. Send him anywhere. Contender non-contender. Would almost be Rudy Gobert like cache of players and picks.
But that’s wishful thinking. Curry is one of those guys you don’t trade even as they get older. Unless he requests a move to Charlotte he will retire a warrior.
Only way they trade Curry is if he ask to get traded. He is part of the problem wit this team right now he has not played very well lately.
IF Warriors decide to rebuild/youth movement, there’s no more luxury of 2 timelines. It should include trading Curry. It’s painful but it must be done before it’s too late. Yes, Curry will continue to bring in $$$$ with jerseys, tickets, but Warriors need complete rebuilt like Thunders.
I have to say after watching tonight’s game that all you Warriors fans are absolutely correct. They need a big man !!
Even the Zeller backup kid had his way. And Jonas Valančiūnas was a man amongst boys out there. Will Green make a difference? Who knows. I guess it worked in the past but we’ll see.
Draymond will make a huge difference but still not enough. And GP2, CP3 will also help down the stretch whem they get healthy, but still not enough with no future. :(
Warriors at best will be pretenders.
Valanciunas with 21 pts in 21 mins. Only the Warriors can make you look like Wilt Chamberlain. Small ball dies when you can’t score. Cause you ain’t stopping nobody.
Warriors need a rim protector.
I said Janos V the other day… You all must of saw. Chris Paul and Santos to NO for Janos V, Larry Nance(flip) and K Lewis. Or Chris Paul and Santos to Chicago for Vucevic and Carter. Or Drummond,
Problem for the warriors is teams will not make that trade. Chris Paul value is his contract is off the books next year. All they could get for him is probably a over paid player that a team wants to get rid of.
I bet Chicago would make that deal though. They still have Drummond and Paul can help them now. Next year keep Paul or Ball. Thanks for replying. This is the only trade the warriors can make it they want to save themselves
If*
Wiggins + Paul = Siakam + Poetl
I looked at the contracts and they more or less match. GSW gets bigger. Wiggins goes home and brings a floor general with him.
Why would the Raptors want to do that?
I’m just trying to find a way for golden state to get a decent center for a team that is looking for All Star players. but I forgot Toronto just acquired IQ so they don’t really need a point guard, so Chris Paul doesnt help. And they’ll need a C, but I don’t think that would be too difficult to acquire. So hopefully, the comments here were about fit, and not talent.. seems to me the talent are a good match.
Jer, you forgot to include the 2 first round picks…, that the Warriors don’t have.
That is one of the worst trade proposals I’ve ever seen on this site, and that’s saying a lot.