Great news for Clippers fans, as Kawhi Leonard is staying put. The two-time NBA champion has decided to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, inking a four-year, $176.3 million max contract with the team on Thursday.
Leonard became a free agent last week after declining his player option for $36 million in the upcoming season. He had no intentions of leaving his hometown of Los Angeles, telling the team last Friday that he was returning to the Clippers to sign a long-term deal that he finalized just this week.
Leonard secures the bag with mammoth four-year deal
Lawrence Frank, the Clippers' president of basketball operations, was delighted with the signing, saying that the agreement marks another important moment for the franchise and its fans as they strive to build a championship-caliber organization. Frank also noted that Kawhi is a transcendent player, and they are eager to continue building around the two-time NBA Finals MVP.
Leonard could have earned much more if he had opted into the $36 million option he was set to rake in the 2021-22 season. The former Spurs and Raptors player could have signed a four-year, $187 million extension afterward if he decided to use that option, but Leonard chose to become a free agent and had some long-term security with his new deal.
The Clippers have opted to keep the lineup that helped them reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time last season largely intact. Apart from re-signing Leonard, the Clips have also inked new deals with Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum, while Serge Ibaka decided to return after an injury-plagued campaign in his first season with the club.
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Will we see Leonard in action next season?
The signing of Leonard is a major coup for the Clippers as they have now locked him and Paul George to long-term contracts. The All-Star duo was spectacular in the playoffs last season, with Leonard averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 11 postseason games played and George dropping in averages of 26.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists during the playoffs.
However, their playoff partnership came to an abrupt end in the Western Conference Semifinal series against the Utah Jazz after Leonard partially tore his ACL in his right knee in Game 4 of their matchup. Leonard was forced to miss the Clippers' last eight postseason games, including all six playoff matches in the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns.
The question now for Clippers fans is when Leonard will return to action. There is currently no timetable for Leonard's return next season, but some speculate that he might miss the entire 2021-22 campaign altogether. Leonard could make a return to the Clippers fold in February, but his long history of knee problems could mean a longer and more cautious rehab plan for the star forward.
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