Kawhi Leonard Turned Down Russell Westbrook In Favor Of Paul George: Report

BYAlexander Cole16.2K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
Kawhi Leonard
The Clippers had multiple options on their mind.

Kawhi Leonard had the entire NBA world on their toes a couple of weeks ago as he decided on a team to call home. The two-time NBA champion decided to go with the Los Angeles Clippers who were able to acquire Paul George via trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was a shocking development that eventually led to another trade involving Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets. As Shams Charania of The Athletic explained, Westbrook almost ended up with the Clippers but in the end, Leonard wanted George.

“Sam, I began to hear in the days leading up to Kawhi’s commitment in the early morning hours of July 6 that he informed the Clippers that he would sign with them — if they were able to acquire a second star. Russell Westbrook and Paul George became early targets, I was told, but Leonard identified George as the player to get," Charania explained. "And once the Clippers received word that Leonard was choosing them, they did whatever they could to ensure his commitment stuck.”

Kawhi Leonard Turned Down Russell Westbrook In Favor Of Paul George: Report
Harry How/Getty Images

This development just goes to show how much power Leonard had this offseason. He duped the Lakers and Raptors into thinking they had a chance and in the end, he created a dynamic duo in Los Angeles Clippers. With Kawhi and George at the helm, the Clippers are going to be a huge threat to win the championship this season.

[Via]


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.
...