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Kawhi Leonard has reportedly declined his third-year, $36 million possibility with the Clippers, per a report from Yahoo! Sports activities’ Chris Haynes and Ben Rohrbach.
With the transfer, Leonard turns into an unrestricted free agent — however that does not imply his stint in L.A. is over. In line with Haynes and Rohrbach, the expectation is for the Clippers and Leonard to succeed in a brand new deal that may proceed to maintain him with the group. Per Yahoo! Sports activities:
“Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer pays no matter it takes to maintain Leonard, contemplating the funding the multi-billionaire made to pair Leonard with fellow perennial All-Star Paul George simply two summers in the past.”
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Leonard’s stint with the Clippers has fallen far wanting the expectations that include superteams: L.A. blew a 3-1 sequence lead within the 2020 Western Convention semifinals to the Nuggets, Leonard’s first 12 months with the group. They made it to the 2021 convention finals a 12 months later, however fell in seven video games to NBA Finals runner-up Phoenix. Leonard, coming off a surgical procedure to restore {a partially} torn ACL, didn’t play within the Clippers’ remaining two video games of the 2021 Western Convention semis and missed the whole lot of the convention finals.
The 2-time NBA Finals MVP is now eligible to earn 35 p.c of the group’s wage cap — $39 million — making it a straightforward resolution for him to say no his third-year possibility. He is additionally eligible for a four-year, $175 million greenback deal. If he have been to signal a one-year deal and enter free company once more subsequent 12 months, he may command a five-year, $250 million cope with L.A., which might then personal his Fowl Rights.
Leonard has averaged 26 factors of 48.8 subject aim proportion, 6.8 rebounds and 5 assists per recreation by his first two years in L.A.
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