Kawhi Leonard joined the LA Clippers in 2019, almost at the same time the Clippers threaded a trade for Paul George, who was recruited by Leonard. Before that, Russell Westbrook is said to have asked Kawhi whether the two could play together in Los Angeles.
That comes from a long ESPN feature by Ramona Shelburne. Accordingly, Westbrook had flirted after eleven years with the Oklahoma City Thunder with a return to his home in Los Angeles after becoming a father for the third time.
Westbrook wanted to live closer to the rest of his family, so he contacted Kawhi Leonard, who had just become champion with the Toronto Raptors. At this point it was already clear that Leonard would move to Los Angeles in the Free Agency.
Leonard, however, seemed to have little interest in this and instead called Westbrook’s then teammate Paul George to see if he would like to play for the Clippers. A week later, the Thunder PG-13 traded to Los Angeles for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two other pick swaps.
Less than a week later, Westbrook was also traded – but to Houston to see his buddy James Harden. In return, the Thunder received Chris Paul and two other first round picks. Westbrook was traded to Washington after a season before being shipped from the Wizards to the Lakers in his home town of Los Angeles a few days ago.
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