Leonard, George pumirma na sa LA Clippers

LOS ANGELES -- Opisyal nang miyembro ng Clippers team sina free agent forward Kawhi Leonard at Paul George.

Ito ay matapos pumirma si Leonard sa isang three-year, $103 million maximum contract habang nakumpleto naman ng Clippers ang trade sa Oklahoma City Thunder para makuha si George.

“This is a historic moment for our organization and our fans,” wika kahapon ni Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “We are grateful and honored that Kawhi Leonard has decided to come home and join the L.A. Clippers. Kawhi is a peerless two-way player, a relentless worker and a natural fit for the serious, professional culture our group has established,” dagdag pa nito..

Nauna nang naiulat ang pagtanggap ni Leonard sa isang four-year, $142 million maximum contract.

Ang kontrata ni Leonard ay para sa two-year guaranteed deal na may nakasaad na third-year player option.

Ito ang magbibigay sa 28-anyos na tubong Southern California ng karapatang iwanan ang kanyang kontrata sa ikatlong taon niya para maging isang free agent sa 2021.

Lumagda rin si George sa isang two-year guaranteed deal na may player option sa pangatlong taon.

“Paul George is one of the greatest two-way players in our game,” wika ni  Frank. “He is both an elite scorer and a relentless defender whose versatility ele-vates any team. When you have the opportunity to acquire a contributor of his caliber, you do what it takes to bring him home. Paul is a native of the Los Angeles area and an ideal fit for the Clippers, thanks to his selflessness and drive.”

Pinili ni Leonard, iginiya ang Toronto Raptors sa kanilang unang NBA championship, na maglaro para sa Clippers kaysa pumirma ng bagong konrata sa Raptors o lumipat sa Los Angeles Lakers.

Kaugnay nito, muli ring pinalagda ng Clippers sina restricted free agent center Ivica Zubac at si free agent guard Rodney McGruder.

Samantala, muling bumalik si Seth Curry sa Dallas Mavericks at pumirma ng $32 million, four-year contract matapos maglaro ng isang season para sa Portland Trail Blazers.

Lumagda naman si Maxi Kleber ng $35 million, four-year deal para manatili sa Mavericks.

Nagtala ang nakakabatang kapatid ni Warriors star Stephen Curry ng mga averages na 12.8 points at 2.7 assists per game para sa Dallas noong 2016-2017 season bago lumipat sa Trail Blazers sa nakaraang season.