It was not a bad game to open the play-in tournament against the Golden State Warriors for Clippers star Kawhi Leonard. He shot 8-for-17 from the field, which is plenty efficient, but he scored 21 points and did not have the impact he needed in a game that L.A. ultimately lost. Leonard was just 1-for-6 from the 3-point line and committed five turnovers on the game.
The Warriors won, 126-121, and now move on to play Phoenix on Friday as they try to secure a spot in the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, which would mean a daunting series against the defending champion Thunder.
But the normally tight-lipped Leonard drew ample attention after the game with a strong statement on Draymond Green, one that some took as a preamble to the possibility of Leonard landing with the Warriors this offseason. Said Leonard: “They had a great game plan, being physical all game. Making sure I don’t get no catch-and-shoot shots. Blitzing every pick and roll. Getting in the post, seeing two bodies. Draymond, Hall of Fame defender. Yeah, it was hard to even get shots up.”
Was Kawhi Leonard Buttering Up the Warriors & Draymond Green?
Now, that might be the closest that Leonard gets to doing some public buttering-up, but amid chatter that the Warriors could pursue him if and when the Clippers begin dismantling their current team and rebuilding it.
Green, for one, is always well aware of what’s going on in and around the NBA, and took up Leonard’s compliments with some gusto. If Leonard was sending a signal that he’d like to come to the Warriors this summer, Green’s response could be read as, “We’d love to have you.”
Draymond Green’s Response to Kawhi Leonard
Here’s what Green said from the podium after the Warriors win:
“To hear one of the greats say that about me? Man. That’s special. You know, that’s why you do it because you want, you want respect from your peers. Kawhi is not—he’s not just an ordinary peer. Again, he is one of the greats. To hear him say that about me, man, that guy took a Defensive Player of the Year Award away from me. To say that about me? That means a lot, that means a lot.
“Because he is a man of few words, you know. But when he speaks, ti’s loud because he doesn’t speak much. I don’t think there is a player in the NBA that does not respect Kawhi Leonard. He is a special guy. So, to hear him, I am grateful to hear him say that about me. Ultimately, you just want the respect of your peers. I’m very thankful for that.”
Warriors Could Make a Bold Move
Of course, getting Leonard to the Warriors could go in a few different directions. There is an outside chance that Leonard and the Clippers will be punished for his role in the Aspiration scandal, in which Leonard was apparently paid for a no-show promotion gig, a potential salary-cap violation. Theoretically, the NBA could declare Leonard a free agent, and he could simply sign with the Warriors on a bargain contract.
Or, if the contract between the Clippers and Leonard remains intact, the Warriors could trade for Leonard. That could get uncomfortable, because the Warriors would have to trade the injured Jimmy Butler to make the financials work on that deal. It’s not a great look to trade a guy rehabbing from an ACL injury.
But Leonard is a possibility for the Warriors. One that Green would certainly welcome.
Draymond Green Response to Kawhi Leonard Raises Eyebrows After Warriors Win