NBA Rumors: Kawhi Leonard "Has Made It Clear" He Wants Point Guard Upgrade

The Los Angeles Clippers have been rumored to be looking for a backup big and some help at the point this trade season. And when it comes to the latter, the urgency has apparently been dialed up, what with two-time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard making his point guard needs known. 

According to NBA Insider Matt Moore of The Action Network:

Kawhi Leonard has made it clear to the Clippers front office that he would welcome a point guard addition, and it’s no surprise that two of his former teammates on his championship Raptors team, Lowry and VanVleet, are on their short list of targets.

We reported on the Clippers' seeming desire to reunite even more of that 2019 Toronto Raptors championship team, to join Kawhi and Norm Powell, already in Clipper-land. Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet are the latest former Raptors the team is targeting. We know that those three worked very well together north of the border, and Kawhi is clearly hoping for a repeat performance. 

In the case of Lowry, however, the reports are that the Heat have no desire to trade him. As for VanVleet, that's another story. The Raptors are reported today to have given rival teams a timeline for their decision on whether they'll make players available for trade, and teams like the Clippers are waiting with bated breath. 

VanVleet will become a free agent at season's end when he opts out of the final year of his deal. He'll be looking for a long-term contract worth north of $30M per year. A point guard and a team leader with championship pedigree would seem to be just what this Clippers team needs. 

Reggie Jackson lost his starting job at the point earlier this season, while newcomer John Wall is only being trusted to handle about 22 minutes per game. 

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