Kawhi Leonard Coy On Clippers Future, Reveals Plans For Next Season

Kawhi Leonard is yet to take a call on his long-term future but admitted recently that the best decision for him at the moment is to decline the player option in his contract next summer.

However, he made it clear that it not an indication about his plans to stay or leave the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Just for my situation right now, I'm just focused on this season," Leonard said Monday, as quoted on ESPN. "Not saying I'm going anywhere else or staying here, but I'm just focused on the season.”

"Obviously, if I'm healthy, the best decision is to decline the player option," the two-time NBA champion added. "But that doesn't mean I'm leaving or staying. I'm focused on the season, like I said. We'll talk about that when the time is right."

Leonard joined the Clippers as a free agent after winning the 2019 NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors. He signed a three-year deal, at that time, with an option on his final season.

If the Clippers' small forward does decide to decline the player option, according to ESPN’s Front-Office insider Bobby Marks, Leonard stands to earn $36 million.

However, the best option will be to opt-out of his contract, which will allow him to get a substantial raise, as he will be able to sign a max contract taking his earnings up to at least $39.3 million per season.

Paul George, who joined the Clippers via trade from Oklahoma City Thunder in July 2019, signed a new long-term deal earlier this month that will see him earn as much as $226 million over the next five years.

The shooting guard’s main incentive to join the Los Angeles franchise was the prospect of playing with Leonard.

The former Thunder star bared that Leonard would follow suit and decide to remain with the Clippers in the long-term as well.

The latter revealed recently that he did speak to George before he signed his new deal, which could well be a factor in the forward’s decision-making process.

"I spoke to Paul, he felt comfortable here," Leonard stated. "He loves the city, he's obviously from here, so I think from his standpoint, he did a great job of coming to me and telling me how he feels before signing the contract."