Clippers emerge as victors in Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes, also acquire Paul George

Kawhi Leonard.
(Image credit: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Clippers put a bow on the NBA's wild offseason on Friday evening.

The franchise reportedly agreed to a four-year max contract worth $141 million with NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, while also trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a haul of future draft picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for All-Star Paul George. George and Leonard, who are both from the Los Angeles area, reportedly wanted to play together.

The Clippers, who made a surprising run to the playoffs last year, add two of the game's best two-way players to an already talented roster that includes Lou Williams, Patrick Beverly, and Montrezl Harrell.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Leonard's decision to sign with the Clippers is bad news for the other Los Angeles franchise. The Lakers were also trying to sign the superstar to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Leonard also spurned the Toronto Raptors, with whom he only played one season, albeit one that resulted in a championship. Toronto could now pivot toward a rebuilding effort.

George's departure from Oklahoma City was somewhat of a surprise considering he signed a long-term deal with the franchise last offseason to play alongside Russell Westbrook. The Thunder are now overflowing with draft picks and future building blocks, but their status as a contender has seemingly taken a hit in the present day, though Gallinari and Gilgeous-Alexander should help lessen the blow of losing George. Read more at ESPN.

Explore More
Tim O'Donnell

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.