Kawhi Leonard’s Los Angeles Clippers underwent a big facelift this week when they acquired James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers.
This is a move that was discussed heavily over the last few weeks, but at one point it looked like it simply wasn’t going to happen.
That all changed when the regular season commenced and the Sixers realized that they had a stud in Tyrese Maxey. That prompted the front office to pull the trigger trading Harden to L.A.
Kawhi Leonard, generally recognized as one of the league’s more stoic personalities, had a strong reaction to the Harden acquisition. The sometimes robotic star detailed his emotional response in a session with the media.
“Once it went down, I was in bed at the time, but I guess excited. He’s one of the best players to step on the NBA floor. We got a lot to figure out and I’m happy for him and ready to see him play in a Clipper jersey.”
Kawhi Leonard on James Harden trade.
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“Once it went down, I was in bed at the time, but I guess excited,” Leonard said.
“He’s one of the best players to step on the NBA floor. We got a lot to figure out and I’m happy for him and ready to see him play in a Clipper jersey.”
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Harden will make his Clippers debut this week.
“Harden will debut on Monday vs. the Knicks at Madison Square Garden – and the team is expected to start Russell Westbrook, Harden, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac moving forward,” he wrote.
Leonard has had a busy few weeks. Between partying it up with his girlfriend and his recent Victor Wembanyama comments, it has been one thing after another landing him in the headlines.
NBA Cheerleader Talks Getting Run Through By Nets Starting 5 (Video): https://t.co/MmatQchUdy
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 4, 2023
Now he has to figure out a way to incorporate Harden in the Clippers’ scheme.
What sort of combination with Leonard and Harden ultimately make when it is all said and done? An answer one way or the other will reveal itself as the Clippers’ season chugs along.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
