Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard acknowledged the departure of former teammate Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers, stating “it’s no surprise,” per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
“We knew what it was before the season,” Leonard commented following Team USA’s practice on Tuesday. “We knew what it was going to come down to. So, we talked the whole way through.”
During last season, Leonard signed a three-year contract extension with the Clippers. However, negotiations for George’s extension waned, leading the 31-year-old to enter unrestricted free agency.
Following the Clippers’ decision not to offer a fourth season in his contract, George swiftly signed a lucrative four-year, $212 million deal with Philadelphia.
In 2019, the Clippers acquired George alongside Kawhi Leonard from the Oklahoma City Thunder, trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and five first-round draft picks on the same day Leonard joined from the Toronto Raptors.
Despite making the playoffs in all four seasons together, Leonard missed the 2021-22 season due to a torn ACL. Collectively, they reached three series victories in the postseason but never advanced to the NBA Finals. Combined, they accumulated six All-Star selections.
