Kawhi Leonard agreed to join the Los Angels Clippers leaving the Los Angeles Lakers guessing.
The Los Angeles Lakers free agency plans changed drastically on the eve of teams officially being able to sign players.
With an unexpected twist in the Kawhi Leonard saga, the two-time NBA champion decided to sign with the one team considered to be out of the race.
Leonard reportedly agreed to sign a four-year $142M deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Free agent forward Kawhi Leonard will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 6, 2019
A stunning development no one saw coming, with the Clippers unable to land a second star in the past days, that left the Lakers, long considered the front runners, empty-handed.
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The second team in LA managed to pull the trigger on a last minute trade allowing them to add MVP candidate Paul George. It took an unbelievable package of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and a record four unprotected first round draft picks, one protected first-round pick and two pick swaps to land him.
While it would seem now a catastrophic event, it always looks so when a big-time free agent decides to sign with another team, but the Lakers still have some stuff in their pocket. And what stuff!
It does not happen every day to have arguably the best player in the world and the best big man in the league on your roster. Although adding Kawhi Leonard would have represented a huge step toward getting a championship back in LA, LeBron James and Anthony Davis still make for the best duo in the league, and the Lakers the favorite to bring home a ring next year.
As soon as Leonard announced his decision, Rob Pelinka was fast securing some very good pieces with the remaining cap space to round up the roster.
The Lakers immediately struck a deal with shooting guard Danny Green:
Free agent guard Danny Green will sign a two-year, $30M deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
After adding one of the most lethal 3-and-D players in the league and a proven winner, the Lakers front office made sure to agree to deals to bring back some familiar faces for another ride on the carousel.
The Lakers are expected to bring back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a two year, $16 million deal, per league sources.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 6, 2019
JaVale McGee has agreed to return to the Lakers, where he’ll likely start at center, league sources tell ESPN. It’s a two-year, $8.2 million deal, with a player option.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 6, 2019
Not harnessed anymore by Kawhi Leonard’s decision, the Lakers team will take shape in the coming days, trying to grab the last good pieces remaining on the market.
As it might take a little longer, some safe options to pick up for LA will be veterans Kyle Korver and Andre Iguodala, as soon as they reach buyouts with their current teams.
This time the Lakers’ front office is doing the right thing adding shooters and defenders around superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Not necessarily in need of a third superstar as much as a functional, well-balanced team with a strong locker room built out of players who know what it takes to win.
Do not be sad Lakers fans. Kawhi Leonard would have certainly been a big addition, but the purple and gold are still the team in LA and the one to beat in the Western Conference. Sometimes the right fit of small parts counts more than a dysfunctional collection of big talents.