Clippers make blockbuster trade to send Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto Raptors
NBA free agency: LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard leave Los Angeles
Tuesday marked a big day in the NBA as LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard are beginning new chapters. Law Murray with The Athletic talks about the massive moves.
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Clippers made a blockbuster move during NBA free agency by trading away superstar Kawhi Leonard. The seven-time NBA All-Star is set to return to Toronto, where he helped lead the Raptors to their first championship in 2019. The move also comes as the Clippers aim to get younger and more competitive in a stacked Western Conference.
What we know:
On Tuesday, ESPN reported that the Clippers traded the two-time Finals MVP in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-rounders, ESPN reported. They later reported the Clippers will get unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, 2030 and 2033 second-round picks and a 2027 first-round swap.
Leonard expressed that the Raptors are the only other team outside Los Angeles he'd sign a long-term deal with. The 35-year-old was entering the final year of his contract with the Clippers.
The forward is coming off one of the best seasons of his career in which he averaged 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He has one year and $50 million left on his contract.
The backstory:
In 2019, the Clippers went all-in during free agency and acquired Leonard, along with forward Paul George.
While the "213 Era" carried significant promise, those seasons were frequently plagued by injuries to both stars. However, the pairing did lead the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2021. They ultimately fell short of advancing to the NBA Finals after being defeated by the Phoenix Suns.
The era notably brought in other future Hall of Famers, including James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Despite the star power, the Clips often fell short in the playoffs and failed to reach the Finals.
What we don't know:
An update on the investigation involving alleged salary cap circumvention has not been announced by the NBA.
The Source: This story was written with information from ESPN and previous FOX 11 reports.