NBA STARS LEONARD AT GEORGE INAYOS NA NG L.A. CLIPPERS

PINALAGDA na ng Los Angeles Clippers bilang free agent si forward Kawhi Leonard para sa three-year, $103 million maximum contract at opisyal na ring kinumpleto ang pagkuha kay Oklahoma City Thunder Paul George.

Inanunsiyo ni Basketball Operations president Lawrence Frank ang pasya noong Miyerkules, pero hindi na binanggit ang termino ng deal.

“This is a historic moment for our organization and our fans,” ayon kay Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “We are grateful and honored that Kawhi Leonard has decided to come home and join the L.A. Clippers.

Kawhi is a peerless two-way player, a relentless worker and a natural fit for the serious, professional culture our group has established. He wins everywhere he goes, and he always has, from King High School to San Diego State to the NBA. Having him on our side is a tremendous privilege and a massive responsibility, one we will take very seriously. His expectation, and ours, is to contend for championships.”

Orihinal na naiulat na si Leonard ay tatanggap ng four-year, $142 million maximum contract. Ang deal ni Leonard ay aktuwal na may two year guaranteed kung saan ay may third-year player option din ito, ayon kay Shams Charania ng The Athletic. Papayagan nito si Leonard, ang 28-anyos na Southern California native, kung nais niyang maging free agent muli sa 2021. Si George na nai-trade din ng Clippers para makakampi si Leonard ay may 2 years guaranteed at player option din sa kanyang deal. “Paul George is one of the greatest two-way players in our game,” ani Frank. (MC)