LOS ANGELES – Kawhi Leonard said he hopes taking less than he was eligible for in a contract extension with the LA Clippers will keep Paul George and James Harden with the team as well.
The Clippers announced Leonard's deal on Wednesday but did not disclose terms. He signed a three-year, $153 million extension, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
“With the conversation I have with them about it, I think for the most part they're all coming back,” Leonard said after the Clippers beat the Toronto Raptors 126-120 on Wednesday night. “So by signing an extension, I think it gives us the opportunity to sign both players.”
Leonard and George entered the season eligible for a four-year, $223 million max extension, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
Sources told Wojnarowski that Leonard's extension will pay the forward $52 million in the first year and approximately $50 million per season for the next two years. The extension does not include a player option, according to Wojnarowski, but does include a 15% trade kicker.
Asked if he planned to take a shorter extension than he was eligible for, Leonard said, “I think I'll be 35 at that point.”
“You'll see how I play at that age,” Leonard, 32, said. “So I guess that's the number.”
The Clippers have also had extension talks with George and want to have both stars lined up on longer-term contracts, sources told Wojnarowski.
Leonard had until June 30 to sign an extension with a $48.7 million player option for next season. George, who also has a $48.7 million player option for next season, said he is excited for Leonard and wants to remain a Clipper.
“I mean, absolutely,” George said when asked if Leonard's extension is a stepping stone to staying. “You secure and lock up Kawhi. He definitely leaves the door open for me, but I'm very, very optimistic that something will be done on my behalf as well.”
When asked how close he and the Clippers are to being on the same page for an extension, George responded: “We're working on it.”
Harden, 34, is under contract and cannot sign a new deal until after the NBA Finals. Both the Clippers and Harden have been very happy with how things have gone since the team acquired the point guard in a trade on October 30.
After a six-game losing streak shortly after the trade, the Clippers have come together and torn apart. They have now won 21 of their last 27 games under Leonard in the midst of one of his healthiest and most productive seasons as a Clipper.
Leonard opened this season playing 27 consecutive games, his most consecutive games in a season since 2016-17. The two-time Finals MVP is averaging 24 points and six rebounds while shooting 51.8% from the field, including 43.2% from behind the arc in 33 games this season.
George, 33, is also enjoying a healthy start to the season, averaging 23.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 46.3% from the field and 41.4% from 3-point range in 35 games this season.
Leonard's extension guarantees the Clippers will have their franchise star when they move into their new Intuit Dome next season.
“It just made sense on both sides,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said. “We both wanted the same thing. We wanted Kawhi to be a Clipper for a long time and Kawhi wants to be a Clipper for a long time and we wanted to focus on the team and at the same time it just came together where it just made sense where it was a very fair deal for both of us.” parts.
“Kawhi was a great partner. Because of this new collective bargaining agreement, there are severe penalties, but team-building penalties for high-spending teams and Kawhi understood that.”
Frank said the team is in constant communication with George's representation. With Leonard, George, Harden and Russell Westbrook all from the Los Angeles area, the Clippers hope the desire to stay home and try to win a championship here will help keep the core together.
“I'm extremely excited and happy that Kawhi reached a deal that will hopefully make him a Clipper for the rest of his career,” George said. “We'll see where I stand when we get there, but we're glad they got the deal done on their end. I know he wants to stay here, and so do I. When my time comes, we'll be ready for those conversations.” Well.”
