Kawhi Wanted LA Move Before Raptors Switch, Paul George Says

Kawhi Leonard was keen to move to Los Angeles this summer, according to Paul George, who admitted he too was keen despite deciding to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It was no secret Leonard was keen to leave the San Antonio Spurs this summer and return home to LA with both the Lakers and the Clippers keen on signing the two-time NBA defensive player of the year.

He requested a trade despite having one-year on his contract and the Spurs hierarchy granted it, but only it was not to any of the teams in Los Angeles. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for their all-time top scorer DeMar DeRozan.

It was not a popular move all-round with both players unhappy with the trade. It now gives the Raptors 12 months to convince Leonard to re-sign with them when he enters free agency in 2019. It is expected the Lakers will make a move as they look bring in more star power to partner LeBron James at the Staples Center.

George admitted both the players had spoken about moving back home and playing for one of the franchises in LA. However, when the small forward entered free agency this summer, he chose to sign a new deal with the Thunder and has now declared that Oklahoma feels like home.

The Thunder star has advised Leonard to give his best despite not getting the move of his choice. The former Spurs star will have full control over his future when he enters free agency next summer.

"Actually me and Kawhi are pretty close,” George said, as quoted by the Express. "Actually during the summer we hung out and kind of talked and got together a little bit.”

“And we did talk a little bit on that. At the end of the day, just telling him to just be open. … We're both Southern Cal guys, and we both wanted to come home and play home, play for the city. But obviously my situation came up and I was happy with it,” the Thunder forward explained.

“Just told him to be open about it, be open about the situation and just give wherever he goes -- at that time we didn't know where he was going. … I told him just give wherever you're going, give them your everything, and decide from there,” George added.

The Raptors begin their pre-season this weekend when they take on the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday night. They follow it up with clashes against the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets and the New Orleans Pelicans before beginning their regular season against last season’s NBA finalists the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Thunder, on the other hand, begin their pre-season campaign on Oct. 3 against the Detroit Pistons, after which they face Minnesota Timblerwolves, Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks. They begin their regular season on the road to the reigning champions the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 16.