Over the last three days, southern California experienced two earthquakes, on Thursday, and then on Friday night. Thursday, a magnitude 6.4 shook the Mojave Desert, while a magnitude 6.9 hit on Friday that postponed the rest of the night's summer league action. For what would happen in the wee hours of the morning on the east coast Saturday, it was funny timing.
Just prior to 2am eastern time, from 1:53-1:57am to be exact, news broke from NBA insiders Chris B. Haynes, Marc Stein, Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski with the details of the summer's most anticipated free agency move. One tweet after the other, pieces of the puzzle began to form.
Kawhi Leonard was not going back to Toronto. Not on a short term deal and not to defend the Raptors' championship. He wasn't on his way to the Lakers to be one third of a super team. He was going home, but he was going to the Clippers. And he wasn't alone.
Two minutes after the initial tweet saying Leonard was Clippers bound, the second aftershock hit. Paul George, formerly of the Oklahoma City Thunder and a top three Most Valuable Player candidate this past season, was on his way to LA to join Leonard, in exchange for Danilo Gallinari, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and a whopping four first round draft picks.
West coast people were not yet asleep, but east coast people were awakened and rushed to the internet for details. It was a bold move by the Clippers, doubling down on the boldness with the George acquisition. The moves put them in prime position. They have long been the little brother of the Lakers, the sibling that wants the attention but doesn't get it because the elder is more popular, more attractive. Clipper owner Steve Ballmer, coach Doc Rivers, and executive Jerry West knew that they had to keep Leonard from the Lakers, knew that they needed something more to compete with their in city rival. Now they have that something, and it creates a powerhouse.
Leonard, coming off a Finals MVP and his second championship, is arguably the best player in the NBA and is its best defensive player. George is an offensive force, having made the All-NBA first team this past season, and a defensive one as well - making the All-defensive first team this year and leading the NBA in steals.
There is no wing tandem, and no point guard through small forward trio, as capable of shutting down an offense as Leonard, George, and point guard Patrick Beverley are. They will provide headaches for any opposing offense. All three are defensive dogs who are willing to take the challenge. Leonard was the driving force behind stopping the Milwaukee Bucks in their tracks in the Eastern Conference Finals and slowing Giannis Antetokoumpo. George, as mentioned, led the league in steals. And Beverley, with a chip on his shoulder and grittiness representative of his hometown of Chicago, never backs down from anyone.
With that trio, and a compliment of players that includes Montrezl Harrell, Mo Harkless, and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, the Clippers have catapulted to the top of the Western Conference alongside the Lakers, who made their own splash with signing four-time all-star Demarcus Cousins to a 1 year deal today. Coached by Doc Rivers, who is no stranger to coaching superstars, this team is tailor-made to banish the Clipper curse and take the crown of Los Angeles' best.
The NBA and its fans anxiously awaited for 6 what seemed like agonizing days the news of what Leonard's next move would be. He chose the Clippers, to the surprise of many. He chose them to build his own legacy, play in the shadows of no one, and turn a franchise around just like he did in Toronto.
The NBA is shaken up. It is on notice. And Kawhi Leonard is the driving force behind it.
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