because that's where it was considered a formality but it
was a very important one shops had the story first
and it's where Kawai Leonard is returning to the clippers
on a four year$176.3 million max deal now?
The contract includes a player option in year four.
But this is huge news for steve Balmer and company
now Shawn's we know that Kawai towards a cl in
the playoffs but why does this move? Makes so
much sense for both sides. Yes. Over the
last couple of weeks what Kawhi Leonard his camp has
done is really start to decide and and go through
the different contract options. Was he gonna sign up
? One plus one was going to be a two
plus 13 plus one. But I think it made
the most sense for koala Leonard right now to go
ahead with the three plus one. Lock in at
$176.3 million in that maximum contract and really commit to
his future in Los Angeles because if he knew this
is where he wants to be long term this alliance
. His contract with paul George is now and also
gives them flexibility moving forward that this is the roster
they're gonna have over the next several years. Yeah
and he's still young. Only 30 years old Pat
let's talk about how we originally coming to the clippers
on a three year deal but now he stays with
a four year deal. So what does this mean
for him in terms of this time around signing this
type of deal with four years instead of three years
when he originally came to L. A. Well
it's it's good for the clippers and that they avoid
this scenario where every year he's entering free agency.
And there's speculation if he's going to take meetings,
potentially go somewhere else. But it also made sense
for my liner. He's probably going to miss most
of this season. Um But what he's able to
do with this contract structure is potentially after the second
year of it extend and add another four years to
the contract, bringing him to essentially a five year
contract in two years at a salary that could be
above the max salary because of the way that extensions
work. Um the way the CBS has changed a
few years ago. So I made a lot of
sense for him. Um And this is a trend
we've seen with a lot of these players is that
they will, we'll sign contracts get to that 10
year of service and then extend beyond its just what
kevin Durant did. Uh And so that's what I
expect if things go well for you to do as
well. Yeah, we talk about what he's going
to miss a good portion of the season due to
that coronet cl he had surgery on it in july
but right now with this clippers roster pet, how
equipped are they to really compete in the Western Conference
, which we always know is very stacked well.
I think they'll be competitive this year, but I
think that they have to look at this year is
a little bit of a gap year. You know
, they want to get their younger players better,
They want to be competitive, they want to make
the playoffs. But I don't think this is a
team that's going to be contending for a championship this
year. Um when when Coco is back in another
year and they're able to continue with their team building
, that's what their plan is to do. But
but right now I see them kind of in that
middle of the pack competing with teams like Dallas and
Denver. Um You know, they can potentially win
a first round series, but but I don't expect
them to be a team contending for a Western Conference
uh crown this year.