In the summer of 2019, the Los Angeles Clippers pulled off one of the boldest moves in franchise history, landing Kawhi Leonard in free agency after his championship run with the Toronto Raptors. The signing not only reshaped the Clippers’ future but also stunned the basketball world, as Leonard turned down both the Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers—despite the Lakers’ aggressive pursuit to pair him with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
At the time, Leonard was fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to an NBA title and earning Finals MVP honors. He was the crown jewel of a star-studded free-agent class that featured Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. While nearly every team wanted him, the race realistically narrowed to three: the Raptors, the Lakers, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Why Kawhi Leonard Turned Down the Lakers — LeBron James
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As Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star revealed, Leonard’s choice was about more than money or market size. “The Raptors believed there was a real chance he would return instead of going to the Clippers despite the lure of Leonard’s home state of California,” Arthur wrote. “Leonard didn’t want to play with LeBron James, so the Lakers were a third wheel in the sweepstakes. Jimmy Butler, a preferred partner, was headed to Miami. And Leonard recognized that Toronto was the best basketball situation, all told.”
One NBA executive told ESPN that the Lakers may have dodged a nightmare scenario by missing out on Leonard. “The Lakers wanted Kawhi badly,” the executive said. “Boy, they dodged a massive bullet by not landing him. You think Rich [Paul] and LeBron are hard to deal with? Uncle Dennis is even worse. He thinks Kawhi is the second coming of Jesus.”
The executive didn’t hold back, adding: “The guy barely plays, doesn’t market the team he’s on, and now he’s in the news for the wrong reasons for the second time since signing with the Clippers. This has been a huge headache for Ballmer and Co.”
In the end, Leonard chose the Clippers over both Toronto and the Lakers. His decision sent shockwaves through the NBA. While the Lakers responded by winning the 2020 championship, the Clippers stumbled in the second round and, six years later, have just one Western Conference Finals appearance to show for it.
Clippers, Kawhi, and the Latest Controversy
Leonard’s decision is drawing renewed attention following a recent report from Pablo Torre of The Athletic. Torre alleges that Clippers sponsor Aspiration paid Leonard $48 million for a “no-show” role, a move that may have been designed to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap. According to the report, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer invested $50 million into the company, while Leonard allegedly performed no work in return.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer addressed the controversy during an appearance on SportsCenter, distancing himself from the sponsorship deal. “We made an investment in the company,” Ballmer said. “I had no control over this company. At the time, it was an exciting deal for us to go do. We had already signed our deal with Kawhi Leonard.”
Ballmer clarified that the sponsorship connection came later: “At that time, we hadn’t even introduced Kawhi to Aspiration. … Then they request to be introduced to Kawhi. Under rules, we can introduce our sponsors to our athletes. We just can’t be involved.”
What It Means for the Clippers
The NBA has launched an investigation into the Aspiration deal, but the long-term implications remain unclear. What is clear is that Leonard’s decision to join the Clippers—and not the Lakers—reshaped the direction of both franchises.
The Clippers landed the superstar they aggressively pursued, but the move has come with baggage. Meanwhile, the Lakers built around LeBron and Davis, securing a championship and avoiding what some around the league now view as a potential disaster.