The OKC Thunder has been the team to beat over the past two NBA seasons. After winning last season, they again finished the regular season as the top seed in the Western Conference, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, both of whom were part of the now-infamous 2019 Paul George trade package from the LA Clippers, along with other draft assets.
On the other hand, the Clippers lost in the play-in tournament to the Golden State Warriors, directly giving the Thunder, whose squad is stacked with young talent, a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.
With this predicament, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith pointed the finger at Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, who he thinks is responsible for creating the championship-level core in OKC.
“Kawhi Leonard wanted to come to Los Angeles. The Clippers want him desperately. He sits up there and blackmails them,” Stephen A. said during his morning sports talk show, First Take.
“They gave up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Galinari, five first-round picks unprotected, and two pick swaps. One of those picks was Jalen Williams in 2022. Plus, they lost last night, and OKC got their first-round pick. So this brother is responsible for OKC’s starting back court of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, who dropped a 40-piece in the finals,” he added.
“Who dropped a 40 piece in the finals, okay. And what the clippers have to show for it especially last five years is two playoff exits they didn’t make it and 3 trips home In
Seven years after the trade between the Clippers and the Thunder, many believed it laid the groundwork for the current OKC squad.
The first five first-round picks in the package were conveyed into Tre Mann, who was traded to the Charlotte Hornets two years ago, Williams, Cason Wallace, who has carved a role as a versatile perimeter defender for the Thunder, and Nikola Topic.
The Clippers’ loss to the Warriors on Wednesday allowed the Thunder to have at least a 1.5% chance for the No.1 pick and a 7% to go into the top four in the upcoming NBA draft.
On top of that, the Thunder is about to start their title defense, with the winner of the Warriors-Phoenix Suns play-in game set to face the defending champions in the first round of the playoffs.
Kawhi Leonard Non-Commital in Future with the Clippers
GettyKawhi Leonard refuses to talk about his future with the LA Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard first signed with the LA Clippers in 2019, fresh from leading the Toronto Raptors to the NBA championship.
Seven years later, he has yet to bring that same glory to Los Angeles.
When asked about his future with the squad, Leonard was non-committal.
“Let me cry about this loss a little bit more,” Leonard said after the Clippers lost to the Warriors in the play-in game. “We’re going to have our discussions when that time comes.”
Leonard still has one more year in his contract with the Clippers, worth $50.3 million. He is also eligible for a two-year extension with the team, a potential offer that could go as high as $126 million.
Notably, Leonard remains a subject of an ongoing league investigation regarding his involvement with a cap circumvention that involves a third-party company called Aspiration.
Clippers’ Loss in Play-In Puts Bitter End to Leonard’s Impressive Season
GettyLA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard ends season with bitter defeat against the Golden Warriors.
Despite the play-in tournament elimination, Leonard showed he remains one of the best players in the league this season.
Leonard carried the Clippers on his shoulder, especially after the team started the season with a 6-21 record.
He played 65 games and averaged 27.9 points, with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals to pull the Clippers to a shot at a playoff berth.
With his future bleak, the 34-year-old Leonard is expected to be in the middle of numerous trade rumors in the offseason.
Stephen A.: Kawhi Leonard is Directly Responsible for OKC Thunder’s Dynasty