The Los Angeles Clippers had been hoping for a dynasty after they went all-in for Kawhi Leonard in 2019. As an alternative, they obtained a franchise left with nothing.
The Clippers signed Leonard in 2019 free company after sending a monster commerce package deal to the OKC Thunder, together with future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and 5 first-round picks, for Paul George.
The NBA introduced its punishment for the Clippers’ wage cap circumvention to signal Leonard, confirming that the Clippers have paid dearly for his or her 2019 gamble.
The Clippers misplaced two MVP trophies and 10 first-round picks for Kawhi Leonard
Leonard might be pointed to as the only motive the Clippers made all of the strikes that finally value them s.
5 had been traded to the Thunder for Paul George to incentivise Leonard to signal with them as a substitute of returning to the Toronto Raptors or becoming a member of the LA Lakers.
Most expensive of all, in addition they gave up SGA, who has change into a two-time MVP and led the Thunder to the 2025 NBA Championship. One in every of these picks grew to become Jalen Williams, who was an All-NBA participant of their championship season.
The state of affairs is worse if you think about that the Clippers additionally gave up first-round decide swaps to the Thunder, making it a complete of seven picks within the deal. Danilo Gallinari was additionally part of the commerce.
The NBA took away the Clippers’ first-round picks from 2029 to 2033 as punishment for his or her cap circumvention to signal Leonard. This contains the 2029 first-round decide they had been resulting from obtain from the Indiana Pacers within the Ivica Zubac commerce.
What do the Clippers have to indicate for the Kawhi Leonard period?
The Clippers staked 15 years of their franchise from 2019 to 2034 to carry Leonard for a tumultuous seven-year tenure the place he averaged 25.1 factors, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 331 video games.
Accidents and controversies dampened it, with the furthest the Clippers superior within the postseason coming with their first-ever Convention Finals look in 2021.
Leonard missed that collection with a torn ACL anyway, taking part in in a complete of three profitable playoff collection matchups over his tenure.
With all that the Clippers gave as much as signal Leonard, there isn’t a method one WCF look over seven years might be thought of price it.
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