Bye, bye Kawhi: Leonard to join LA Clippers; Danny Green to Lakers

It was a heck of a season, but it appears that’s all the Toronto Raptors are going to get from Kawhi Leonard.

Less than a month after leading the Raptors to their first NBA title, the superstar free agent is reportedly leaving Toronto for the Los Angeles Clippers.

A person familiar with the negotiations says the Clippers will be landing Leonard as a free agent after they acquire Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a massive trade for players and draft picks.

George will be traded for at least four first-round picks, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity early Saturday because none of the moves have been finalized. And Leonard made his decision to sign with the Clippers after the team swung the deal to land George, the person said.

Sources: Leonard and George met in LA earlier in week. Clippers had long been frontrunners for Leonard, but it is unlikely he would've made final leap to sign without PG trade. Clippers imagined Leonard as part of a Lakers Big 3 — and knew they had no choice. They did OKC deal.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

ESPN, which first reported the trade, also said the Thunder were getting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari from the Clippers.

Leonard going to the Clippers means that for the first time, a reigning NBA Finals MVP will be changing teams before the next season. Leonard was also pursued by the Los Angeles Lakers and, of course, the Raptors.

In the end, Kawhi Leonard didn't want to construct a Super Team with the Lakers. He wanted a co-star across the Staples corridor with the Clippers, and made it clear to Steve Ballmer and Lawrence Frank: Get PG, and I'm coming.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019

The most the Clippers can offer Leonard is $142 million over four years, which is the deal he is expected to sign. Players can sign with new teams as early as noon Eastern on Saturday.

Leonard was arguably the most coveted prize in this year’s free agency, and met with several teams including the Raptors, Lakers and Clippers in his hometown of Los Angeles.

All the information that leaked from Magic’s conversations with Kawhi team didn’t help the Lakers case.

— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) July 6, 2019

The Lakers didn’t wait long before starting to move on from their quest for Leonard. Danny Green announced that he is signing a two-year deal with the Lakers, meaning he, too, is leaving Toronto.

“Kawhi has made his decision. Seems like the announcement is out,” Green said in a video he posted to his social media accounts. “It’s time for me to make my announcement … I will be teaming up with new teammates in LA, the Los Angeles Lakers.”

BREAKING: pic.twitter.com/oIPUwiFLmI

— Inside The Green Room (@GreenRoomInside) July 6, 2019

Green said he enjoyed Toronto and that it was unfortunate how free agency turned out for that city, the Raptors and for Canada.

Thank you, Raptors fans. This is a run we’ll never forget. We can’t thank you enough for the love and support we experienced over the last year. You are some of the greatest fans basketball has to offer. Thank you #WeTheNorth

Stay tuned for another episode with more details.

— Inside The Green Room (@GreenRoomInside) July 6, 2019

Raptors President Masai Ujiri has released a statement thanking Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green for the year they played with the Raptors.

“I know the city and the entire country of Canada are grateful for everything they did to help us win out first NBA Championship,” read the statement. “I say a very heartfelt thank you to Kawhi and to Danny and we send them and their families nothing but good wishes.

Ujiri add the Raptors are now focused on the future and will continue their pursuit of a second championship.

Together we made history. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/OD89m4T6vC

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) July 6, 2019

The news ends months of speculation and angst for Raptors fans.

Leonard’s departure was considered by many to be a foregone conclusion a year ago when Raptors president Masai Ujiri acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs in an off-season blockbuster that sent beloved franchise icon DeMar DeRozan to Texas.

Leonard had a year left on his contract plus a player option – which he was certainly going to decline – when he moved to Toronto, and many believed he’d put in a season in Canada before bolting for his hometown of Los Angeles.

The top 10 Twitter trends in Toronto on Saturday morning were about the move, among them the hashtags: #ThankYouKawhi and #ThankYouDanny. Toronto Mayor John Tory tweeted: “Our #KawhiWatch has ended. #ThankYouKawhi for the NBA championship that you helped to bring to Toronto with your ?Raptors teammates. #ThanksKawhi #WeTheNorth.”

Our #KawhiWatch has ended. #ThankYouKawhi for the NBA championship that you helped to bring to Toronto with your @Raptors teammates. #ThanksKawhi #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/04fVCECnIw

— John Tory (@JohnTory) July 6, 2019

The Raptors certainly made Leonard’s decision a tough one. After Leonard missed all but nine games last season with San Antonio with a serious quadriceps injury, he said health was his biggest concern heading into this past campaign.

Toronto responded by treating the superstar, who turned 28 on Saturday, with kid gloves. They made “load management” part of their lexicon, holding him out of back-to-back games for health maintenance.

Load management paid off in the playoffs. Leonard had one of the best performances in NBA post-season history in leading the Raptors to their first Larry O’Brien Trophy. He was excellent on both sides of the ball as they dispatched Orlando, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and finally the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors. He was rewarded with his second career Finals MVP award.

There were iconic moments along the way, including his series-winning final shot in Game 7 against the 76ers that bounced on the rim four times before falling, sending the Scotiabank Arena crowd into a frenzy.

Leonard’s status as a sports icon in Toronto and across Canada perhaps closed the gap between the Raptors and other suitors.

But ultimately, what Toronto had to offer wasn’t enough.

Kawhi chose home and you shouldn't be mad at that. #ThankYouKawhi pic.twitter.com/et40HjgtVX

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 6, 2019

Leonard averaged 26.6 points on 49.6 per cent shooting, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 steals over 60 regular-season games with the Raptors in 2018-19. He took his game to an elite level in the playoffs, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals over 24 games.

It’s a massive blow to Toronto’s chances of back-to-back titles, and obviously puts a damper on the Lakers’ off-season quest as well – even though they will finalize a trade Saturday to bring in Anthony Davis from New Orleans and landed the sort of shooter than LeBron James craves by adding Green.

Recap of the Kawhi Leonard era in Toronto: pic.twitter.com/9CMgM6ixhB

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 6, 2019