(Los Angeles) Kawhi Leonard will sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, despite missing most of next season with a knee injury.
Posted on August 6, 2021
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday that the two clans still have a few loose ends before making an announcement.
The source requested anonymity, since the agreement has not been formalized.
The Clippers reached the Western Finals last season, where they lost in six games to the Phoenix Suns.
The team also signed point guard Reggie Jackson for a contract extension and acquired Justise Winslow.
Although Leonard chose not to take advantage of the option year provided for in his contract for the next season, he was expected to stay with the Clippers.
He will be able to sign a new contract which will represent a maximum of 35% of the team’s payroll, which will allow him to receive more than three million more for the next campaign.
Leonard averaged 24.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season. He was even more dominant in the playoffs, where he averaged 30.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.
His run came to an end, however, in Game 4 of the Western Semi-Final Series against the Utah Jazz, when he injured his right knee.
Jackson averaged 17.8 points in the last playoffs.
Winslow has been plagued by injuries the past two seasons. His average was 6.8 points per game in 26 games last season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Yahoo Sport first reported the news about Leonard, while ESPN first revealed information about Jackson and Winslow.