If you were picking a winner from last summer’s whirlwind NBA offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers could probably make the strongest case with a pair of Southern California superstars dropping into their laps.
How did Paul George and Kawhi Leonard end up together in LA? According to PG, it began with a fairly innocuous phone call to congratulate Kawhi on his championship — the two knew each other from high school ball. From there, they got to talking, one thing led to another, Drake’s house somehow factors in, and the plan to partner up with the Clippers was eventually hatched.
Ramona Shelburne’s story for ESPN contains the minutiae:
Once the two Southern California boys began talking, "it just trickled from there," George says.
There were countless text messages and phone calls and then two in-person meetings at Drake's house in Hidden Hills, California. (Drake had befriended Leonard during his season in Toronto and let Leonard — who lives in San Diego — stay there when he was in Los Angeles for free-agent meetings.) By July 1, they had decided to put their plan in motion: Leonard told the Clippers that he was interested in playing for them but only if they could improve their roster by adding an All-Star-caliber player like George.
The next day, Leonard met with George in Los Angeles. Shortly after their meeting, George's agent placed a call to Thunder president Sam Presti, asking if he would look for a trade to help George and Leonard play together.
For George, his primary motivation in forcing a trade to the Clippers was to play at home. It makes sense since, by all indications, George had been satisfied in Oklahoma City with Russell Westbrook, but being around family and being introduced before every game as Paul George from Palmdale are special to playing in LA.
It’s hilarious — mostly meaningless, but still hilarious — that the Clippers’ big free agency windfall was all facilitated at Drake’s place in California. Still, it’s all love for the guy who delivered a championship, and Kawhi’s No. 2 Raptors jersey still hangs from the wall at Drake’s house.
h/t ESPN
