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There has been a monumental shift in talent in the Western Conference. After days of wondering where free agent superstar and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard would decide to play his basketball next season, the Los Angeles Clippers shocked the basketball world.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, not only have the Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard, but they have traded for Oklahoma City star Paul George. The trade for George reportedly involves an incredible haul of picks to go along with with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Galllinari.
In order to separate George with Oklahoma City the Clippers will send four unprotected first round picks, one protected first round pick, as well as the rights to swap two more picks to the Thunder.
Kawhi Leonard has been recruiting Paul George to find a way to get to the Clippers and LA pulled it off tonight: George goes to the Clippers with Leonard, and together they walk into Staples Center to go head-to-head with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
Rival NBA teams have been aware of the discontent of OKC's two stars: Paul George — and Russell Westbrook, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Leonard pushed the Clippers in recent days to deliver him a second star, and they did.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 6, 2019
The haul of picks had shades of what the Brooklyn Nets sent the Boston Celtics to part ways with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, a trade that set Boston up for years to come. Of course none of that matters if Leonard and George can bring a title to the Clippers in a Western Conference race that is suddenly blown completely open.