A little more than a day after the free agency window opened, reports started pouring out that Keven Durant and Kawhi Leonard had discussed joining Clippers together and lining up together next season.
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Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard: The Team Up That Didn’t Happen
Ultimately, it does seem like the two may go their separate ways, with Durant already having joined the Brooklyn Nets. But, the talks between the two may help shine some light on where Leonard would head to next.
It was Leonard that first made contact with Durant. According to Ramona Shelburne, Leonard contacted Durant, inquiring if he desired to play with Leonard at the LA Clippers. Briand Windhorst later confirmed this news on this Wednesday’s “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective.”
The Clippers remain in the pursuit of Leonard, along with the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The New York Knicks, Clippers, and Nets all began their foray into free agency window with the ability to sign two max free agents. Irving seems set to move to Brooklyn, so adding both Durant and Leonard wasn’t a possibility for the Nets.
On the other hand, both Durant and Irving have been planning to team up for a long time as well. Perhaps Durant would still have made the switch to Brooklyn if Leonard kept his eyes on Madison Square Garden.
Durant was open to teaming up with Leonard rather than Irving, at least on the court, but Leonard would only entertain that possibility with the Clippers, while Durant was set on doing it in New York, per @RicBucher https://t.co/WtLAnh05nK
— JB (@JeffreyBellone) July 4, 2019
The Knicks did have plans to meet with Leonard this week, but they decided not to pursue other free agent targets instead. It was clear to the franchise that they had little chance of landing Leonard.
Through most of the year, it was the Clippers who were the front-running favorites to land Kawhi Leonard. The Raptors and the Lakers have a big shot at his signature as well, and with Leonard set to decide his future in the next few days, it will be fascinating to see how it all pans out.
UPDATE: It has now been confirmed that Kawhi Leonard will be joining the Clippers.
Breaking: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be heading to the LA Clippers, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/5gxb2o6FhU
— ESPN (@espn) July 6, 2019
