The Los Angeles Clippers will be keeping Kawhi Leonard, as the superstar forward signed a maximum contract this week, amounting to 35% of the team’s salary cap, with the ability to earn up to $3 million more for the 2021-2022 season.
Leonard, in his first two seasons in his hometown, averaged 26 points, 6.8 rebounds, and five assists per game. In this summer’s playoff run, his numbers peaked at 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists through 11 games. However, his season ended abruptly when he suffered a partially torn right ACL in Game 4 of the Clippers second-round series with Utah.
Los Angeles went to the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history, before bowing out in six games to the Phoenix Suns.
There is no timetable for Leonard’s return next season, but it remains entirely possible he could miss a majority of the regular season.