Kawhi Leonard Going to Clippers With Paul George

In order to land big-fish free agent Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers had to empty a lot of assets out of their pond, but the team got it done in the end.

To bring Leonard to LA on a four-year deal worth $142 million, the Clippers first had to secure his teammate of choice, Paul George, via trade.

That meant sending the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forward Danilo Gallinari, as well as five first-round draft picks that will give OKC myriad options of how to build their team down the road.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has all the details:

Sources: Oklahoma City is getting a massive package of future picks, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Galllinari, to deliver Kawhi Leonard who he wanted to partner with: Paul George. https://t.co/4bGpMNat8K

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

Kawhi Leonard has been recruiting Paul George to find a way to get to the Clippers and LA pulled it off tonight: George goes to the Clippers with Leonard, and together they walk into Staples Center to go head-to-head with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

After Leonard pushed George to find a way to get to the Clippers, Paul George approached the team and requested a trade, league sources tell ESPN. OKC was left with no choice and made the best out of a difficult situation, per sources.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

The Clippers are sending the Thunder four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick and two pick swaps, league sources tell ESPN. Those picks go to OKC with Gallinari and SGA.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

Sources: Leonard and George met in LA earlier in week. Clippers had long been frontrunners for Leonard, but it is unlikely he would've made final leap to sign without PG trade. Clippers imagined Leonard as part of a Lakers Big 3 — and knew they had no choice. They did OKC deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

In the end, Kawhi Leonard didn't want to construct a Super Team with the Lakers. He wanted a co-star across the Staples corridor with the Clippers, and made it clear to Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank: Get PG, and I'm coming.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

In the end, Toronto didn't have assets to satisfy OKC — with or without Siakam in any proposed deal. The fear of Toronto entering into trade talks with OKC only proved to guarantee the Clippers would go the distance with five first-round picks and SGA in deal for George.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

In related moves, sharpshooter Danny Green will leave the Raptors to join the Lakers on a two-year deal worth $30 million. Center JaVale McGee also agreed to return to the Lakers on a two-year, $8.2 million deal.

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Evan Bleier

Evan is a senior editor with InsideHook who earned a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and has called Brooklyn home since 2006. A fan of Boston sports, Nashville hot chicken and Kentucky bourbon, Evan has had his work published in publications including “Maxim,” Bleacher Report and “The Daily Mail.”