After making his mark in San Antonio and Toronto, winning two NBA Finals and Finals MVPs, Kawhi Leonard signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019 on a three year 103 million dollar contract with an opt-out option in 2021. Leonard chose to stick around with his hometown team, opting to not use the 2021 option and hopefully sign a long term extension in the following seasons. This hope came true for the San Diego State alum as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, that Leonard signed a three-year $153 million contract extension earlier this morning.
Deal includes $52M in first year and approximately $50M a season over the next two years, sources tell ESPN. No player option https://t.co/YaaheSEAeB
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2024
Leonard is finally returning to the form that Clippers fans were hoping for when they initially signed him in 2019. Kawhi is averaging 23.8 points per game, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and shooting at a field goal percentage of 51.6. This extension shows how committed this Clippers organization is to keeping Leonard as well as Paul George, who the Clippers are now focusing on extending as well in order to keep this dynamic duo together. LAC currently sits at fourth in the western conference and continues to grow chemistry amongst their big four of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard. There is still a lot of time left in the season but the Clippers continue to show that they are a team to be reckoned with in a strong western conference that is currently being led by none other than the Minnesota Timberwolves. I expect the Clippers to get a deal done with George ASAP and will continue to focus on how they can get over their playoff hump and make it back to their second Western Conference Finals since making their first in the 2020-21.
With Kawhi Leonard landing approximately $100M in new contract money on his extension, the Clippers have likely set the salary floor on a Paul George deal. The franchise's talks with George remain ongoing. Both players have to decline a $48.7M player option to do a new deal.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 10, 2024
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