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Kawhi Leonard declined his $ 36 million player option next season to become a free agent, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Sunday.
Leonard is expected to negotiate a new deal to stay with the LA Clippers, according to Wojnarowski. Leonard could potentially sign a four-year, $ 176.2 million contract or could go one-on-one and become a free agent in 2022, when he could sign a five-year contract worth $ 235. million dollars, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Leonard’s decision to decline his option comes in the wake of the July 13 surgery to repair a partially torn right ACL that has kept him out of the Clippers’ last eight playoff games. Leonard is expected to miss a lot of time as he recovers from his injury.
“We hope to have a very long term relationship with him,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said last week. “… Right now, like Kawhi, we are focusing on his health. He has had major surgery. He tore his ACL. It will take a long time and we want to support him in this task. . “
Leonard said in December that turning down his option didn’t necessarily mean he was leaving the Clippers.
“Obviously, if I’m healthy the best decision is to turn down the player’s option,” Leonard said in December. “But that doesn’t mean I’m leaving or staying.”
Leonard averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 52 regular-season games in his second season with the Clippers. He missed nine of 10 games in April with a foot injury.
Ahead of Leonard’s knee injury, the Clippers got a glimpse of their potential with Leonard and Paul George playing their best basketball together on the playoff stage. Leonard averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 57.3% in 11 playoff games.
After the Clippers reach their first Western Conference final in franchise history, they hope to bring back their greatest free agents like Leonard, Reggie Jackson and Nic Batum. Center Serge Ibaka opted for the second year of his contract on Saturday.
Leonard’s decision to decline his player option was first reported by Yahoo Sports.
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