Star players like LeBron James, Paul George, and Rudy Gobert have signed contract extensions that will take them off the free agent market for 2021, but at least one superstar remains a good bet to become a free agent next summer. Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard can opt out of his deal at that point and is ineligible to sign an extension before then.
Asked today about his contract situation, Leonard, unsurprisingly, wasn’t too talkative. The two-time Finals MVP told reporters, including Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times, that he’s “just focused on this season.” However, he did offer a hint about his plans.
“Obviously, if I’m healthy, the best decision is to decline the (2021/22) player option,” Leonard said, “but that doesn’t mean I’m leaving or staying. I’m focused on the season, like I said. We’ll talk about that when the time is right.”
While it’s somewhat surprising that Leonard offered up even that small morsel of info to reporters, it’s not exactly a groundbreaking admission. The 29-year-old’s option for the ’21/22 season is worth about $36MM. If he opts out, he’ll be eligible for a starting salary worth up to a projected $39.34MM, whether he re-signs with the Clippers or joins a new team.
Players with 10 or more years of NBA experience are eligible for a maximum salary worth 35% of the cap, as opposed to 30% for players with 7-9 years of service. This is Leonard’s 10th season, so he’ll be eligible for that higher max for the first time in 2021, which is presumably the main reason why he only opted for two guaranteed years when he initially signed with the Clippers in 2019.
Despite the club’s playoff flame-out this summer, there’s no indication that Leonard has any regrets about his decision to return home to Los Angeles and join the Clippers last summer. While it’s possible that could change with another disappointing early playoff exit in 2021, the most likely outcome for now is probably Kawhi opting out next year in order to sign a new deal with the Clips.
Meanwhile, even as we look ahead to Leonard’s next deal, the circumstances of his initial contract agreement remain under NBA investigation, as we detailed last week. Leonard has brushed off the recruitment allegations made against Jerry West and the Clippers, which commissioner Adam Silver addressed today during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
“All I can say there is everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Silver said, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN. “We’ll look into it. It’s our obligation … that if something comes to our attention, we look into it and see if anything is there. I have no reason to believe, based on what’s been alleged so far, that anything inappropriate took place, but that’s why we follow up on whatever leads come to the league office.”
Just another reminder that Kwahi is every bit as Machiavellian as other superstars, but a lot quieter about it.
Also, fun fact about “innocent until proven guilty” to bring up to your “letter of the law” friends and family – there’s nothing explicit about that right in the US Constitution. A “strict textual reading” of the Constitution shows we have no right to presumption of innocence.
You know these rules are based on a CBA not the US Constitution, and it isn’t actually illegal, just against corporate rules right?
Which makes it all the more weirder KL and his people are using that language then by your own omission correct whoneedsfacts?
I get what Jasons saying and agree- KL is pulling all the same stunts as many of the Divas at the party you just dont notice b/c hes standing in the corner quite with his hands in his pockets
I do. Just sharing a fun fact bro.
Ok good, somtimes people get so caught up in everything sport forget that it’s just a business (more so than a game).
The 1+1 deserves more scrutiny for sure
No long term commitment. No chance of flipping a disgruntled guy for even .75 on the dollar bc every year they’re expiring.
Instead you keep your team a contender or lose the dude for nothing.
Would be awesome if the Raptors could get him again !
He reminds me of Will Farrell in Talladega Nights after his first race talking to the reporter “um we did real good, do I hold the mic? What do I do with my hands”.
I love Kawhi and I love the Lakers but please dont force your way to us KL-
The NBA is so much better without a superteam
I wouldnt blame him for wanting to get outta the Flippers ,who I think are going to be a hot mess real soon, but chose less than a layup team to go too, you already got the rings. Something like Atl would be awesome for everyone and put a lot more balance and appeal in the NBA for new fans imo
Kawhi is one of the more inscrutable dudes in the league on a few levels
He wins a ring in Toronto. Then leaves w/ PG who was under contract.
Does as much load mgmt as anyone. Was essentially a role player for his first 3-4 seasons. Missed an entire season once he blossomed into a star.
Pushed his way to LA but won’t make a longterm commitment.
Kawhi is bye bye, they didn’t get him a PG, they paid PG and Kennard way to much. They still have the locker room headaches Beverly and Lou Will. They aren’t going to make the WCF yet again and Kawhi we all know just wants to be comfortable playing winning basketball.
He isn’t going to be winning or comfortable with the Clippers. I can see him going to Houston (Harden trade), Dallas (almost can make max scale space) and imagine Kawhi with Doncic and Porzingis in a locker room that doesn’t have huge loud personalities, Miami, imagine Kawhi with Butler Herro Adebayo and that culture.
Of these Dallas looks the most likely. They have a great run organisation, the have a great core that’s ready t on in now and will only get better in the future. They have Luka a willing passer and playmaker who gets points too, Porzingis one of the hardest players to mark up against and then if you add Kawhi you’ll have the two way wing with Clutch ability, than can lock up any player in the league.
Dallas big 3 would be a dynasty and perfect timing with Bron getting older, Klay injured with GSW and them getting older too, Russ is gone and Harden wants out. The west is crumbling at the top as young teams build like the Nuggets, Pelicans and TWolves but the Mavs would beat all these for years to come if they got Kawhi
I agree, Dallas would be a great great fit, slight questions on Mia but it would ultimately probably be too dynamic too turn down if KL showed heavy interest
Cubans good at the pitch, he’s been great at sheltering his stars over there for two decades. Something I think Kl would jive too, Luka still carries the city’s weight and pressures KL just shows up when it matters
Clippers ofc still real strong possibility but they are on the clock this year- Anything less than a game 7 WCF loss he’s likely to bolt-
Lakers ugly darkhorse in this thats good for nobody- I say the as a LAL fan
Yeah Mavs just would be a perfect fit. Cuban loves a big star and sheltering them. It terms of locker room Kawhi fits that perfectly cause there isn’t any loud annoying outspoken players they are all hard workers trying to improve and okay winning basketball.
In terms of future success, you couldn’t join a better team. Luka is going to be the face of the league after LeBron he’s averages almost a 30 point triple double. You’ve got KP who’s insanely skill full and really hard to match up with. If you had to name a team in the next 10 years that’ll win a ring it would be the Lakers Bucks and Mavs probably. With the addition of Kawhi you’d have a future dynasty capable of going three straight.
I’d say Miami could be tempting, great culture, great place to live, successful team and organisation, also young and improving. Id say a turn off would be Butler and Herro possibly and getting media attention.
Lakers ofcourse would be a dark horse to get him and it would mean winning atleast 2 more rings easily. But I think legacy wise Lashi maybe doesn’t do that plus the LeBron attention and AD attention wouldn’t suit him.
Its tempting for MIA But it really goes against everything KL has been about the last couple years-
Mia apparently practices harder than any team in the league- KL calls when he wants to play in games let alone practices – Tempting but idk about the fit….. I dont see Riley rolling out the red carpet when hes already got Butler Bam Herro to keep happy on the side…..KL wants that red carpet as you know; I think its 100% a must in his eyes
I also think Mavs would be awesome for the klaw. If Kawhi goes to Dallas, they can sign J-Rich as an over the cap team. The starting 5 would be:
Luka
J-Rich
Kawhi
Finney-Smith
Porzingis
All of those 5 except Luka play really good defense. And of course Luka, KP and Kawhi can really score it. And J-Rich and DFS are good catch and shoot 3 point guys. That team would be destined to win championships for sure.
If the Mavs were to make a trade I think they would start by looking at clearing Dwight Powell for an expiring contract like Tony Snell, Solomon Hill or Trevor Ariza and give up a second rounder.
That would make the team better this year and open up more cap space for attracting Kawhi.
Secondly if there’s no suitors on that, then I’d try attach J-Rich to Powell and go for Evan Fournier and Al Aminu or Myles Turner by himself.
Your plan should be build around Luka and KP while clearing some space for Kawhi and making it as attractive to him as can be. So maybe improve the defence a little more and look at adding another 5.
If they were to get Turner that would a huge win. Turner is still only young, gives you some more spacing, blocks shots well and has room to develop.
Miami, NYK, Philly would be my guess if anywhere, but I doubt he leaves the Clippers. He didn’t go through everything he did only to leave LA.
First off KL didn’t go through anything to go to the Clippers, the Clippers did. He just told them his demands and who he wants to play with. The Clippers gave up the players and draft capitol to get him. The only ones who suffer these days are the teams trying to coddle thier diva baby superstar’s. (Houston Rockets) These guys just go wherever they feel is the easiest place to win at and if it doesn’t (or even does in some cases KL) work they bolt for somewhere else that looks easier. Yes I know he was traded to Toronto. They also gave him everything he wasn’t getting in San Antonio and a ring and he still left. I miss the days when guys didn’t want to team up with each other and had the competitive spirit to want to beat each other. Mad props to Giannis for signing that extension.