Kawhi Leonard was surprised by the recent trades made by the Los Angeles Clippers.
The team had been performing well and gaining momentum, but then the front office made a change.
The Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac, key players in their recent success. This move raised questions across the NBA. Reports indicated that several teams expressed interest in Leonard just before the trade deadline.
However, the Clippers decided not to trade him. They recognize his importance, regardless of any future rebuilding plans. Los Angeles acquired Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson, along with some draft picks.
These new additions led to speculation about the franchise’s future without Leonard. This idea quickly gained attention.
Yet, reporter Joey Linn mentioned that Clippers president Lawrence Frank discussed Leonard’s future, suggesting he might remain in Los Angeles after his current contract ends.
“We definitely see a scenario where he’s part of the group going forward. Look — Kawhi when healthy is arguably one of the top-5 players in this league. No one is playing better than him over this last 7-week stretch. Similar to what we did in other summers, we always get together with Kawhi and his representatives and we lay out what the plan is,” Frank said.
“The number one priority for Kawhi is the same number one priority for the Clippers organization. We want to win a championship. How do we do it together? This is what it looks like.”