We experienced the most exciting free agency in NBA history this summer, and one free agency saga is particularly interesting. Several superstars, including Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson made their decisions in the opening hours of free agency. However, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard decided to wait with his.
Leonard held talks with the Toronto Raptors, with whom he won the NBA championship last season, and with the Los Angeles Lakers, who were the biggest favorites to land the superstar forward. The Lakers were the first in line to snap up Kawhi, and they put their free agency plans on hold, waiting for Leonard’s decision. Kawhi decided to join the Los Angeles Clippers after he managed to persuade them to bring Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that didn’t sit well with the Lakers.
The Clippers welcome PG and Kawhi home on billboards across from Staples Center. pic.twitter.com/w7qZpOwGR2
— ESPN (@espn) July 17, 2019
Frank Vogel’s side missed out on All-Star point guards Kemba Walker and D’Angelo Russell while waiting for Leonard. They went to the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, respectively. Although they added Danny Green and DeMarcus Cousins and brought Rajon Rondo back, the Lakers did miss out on a superstar such is Kawhi.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Los Angeles Lakers felt betrayed by Kawhi Leonard after going to the Clippers.
“I’ve heard complaints in the days after the signing. I heard complaints from the Lakers that they got played. I heard complaints from the Raptors that Kawhi came in and asked for the sun, the moon, and the stars then left them at the altar,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s “The Hoop Collective.”
“I kind of think they were all still in the game, and they all felt like they were still in the game. If Toronto did not still feel like they were in the game, they would not have sent the plane for him, they would not have done the big presentation. If the Lakers didn’t think that they were still in the game, they would not have delayed the Anthony Davis trade like they did to wait and see if they could get him,” he added.
