Kawhi Leonard's New Contract With Clippers Will Run Four Years

 

Yahoo's Chris Haynes has the details on Kawhi Leonard's new contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, and the team is taking a long-term leap of faith that the forward's surgically repaired knee will be just fine.

BREAKING: All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard and Los Angeles Clippers have reached agreement and he has signed a new four-year contract that includes a player option, solidifying the star’s future with the team, league sources tell @YahooSports. https://t.co/Cjq5MfX1pF

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) August 12, 2021

The contract will be 4 years, $176.3 million dollars, and include a player option for the final season, according to Shams Charania. He had made the decision to return to the Clips last week. But it was expected he would be signing a shorter deal:

.@TimBontemps is surprised Kawhi signed a four-year deal with the Clippers.

"The expectation was Kawhi Leonard was going to sign a one-plus-one." pic.twitter.com/59C6slMnGJ

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 13, 2021

Leonard partially tore his ACL during the Clippers' playoff run this season, and will be out for likely the entire 2021-22 regular season. Nevertheless, he opted out of his existing $36 million dollar player option for the upcoming season, to become a free agent. 

While there were some reports that Kawhi could shop his services around, it's likely he planned all along to return to his hometown Clippers. 

After winning the 2019 NBA championship as a member of the Toronto Raptors, Leonard signed a 3-year free agent deal with L.A. that gave him an opt-out in the 3rd year. He's averaged 24.8 PPG over his two years with the Clippers, while shooting 51% from the field and 40% from three. 

Leonard is a two-time Finals MVP and five-time All-Star.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports