Give up $81 million to help Harden realize his championship dream! The most selfless supergiant, the league wants to finale
When the Suns, Lakers, and Rockets are entangled, and when the Warriors are gradually approaching the Trail Blazers and Spurs, the Clippers have quietly fought all the way to fourth place, and they are close to the top Timberwolves. The Clippers have won 21 of their 27 games since they came off the bench, while the Clippers have won 16 of Leonard's last 17 games and lost just one to the Lakers. I have to say that in this kind of key game, we can still see the competitiveness of the Lakers and Lao Zhan, but in terms of comprehensive strength, team cohesion, team floor and overall stability, the Clippers have no opponents. As Rivers Sr. said of Harden for a 180-degree turnaround: Harden has brought Leonard and George back to the rhythm they excel at, injecting new energy.
In addition, the Clippers officially announced that they had completed a three-year, $152.4 million contract with Leonard, who first rejected the $48.7 million player option for next season, and the new contract was worth $52 million in the first year of the contract, but $50 million for the next two years. The original words of the Chinese agent barbecue sister are that Leonard has not considered other teams, and his choice has always been Los Angeles. But there are two points that are very interesting, first, why did Leonard sign his contract for three years? Second, why didn't Leonard take a super-cap salary, but take it like a calculated salary? Leonard's own words, it's time to renew the contract, nothing special to explain. Pressed by a quick reporter, Leonard revealed his real goal for renewing his contract: After I finish [renewing], we have the opportunity to sign two "brothers". Harden and George, naturally.
First of all, there are two undoubted points: first, even if Leonard is not with the Clippers, as long as he enters the free market, the team that is willing to offer him a super maximum salary can break the threshold. Healthy Leonard is in the top five in the league in offense and defense, averaging only 24 points, 6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, but no one in the league is stronger than him in the high-end game and the ceiling of the playoffs! In terms of renewal priority, Leonard is first, and George must be second. The question is, Harden is also a contract year, and he is limited by the 1+1 pit contract with the 76ers at the beginning, and he can't renew his contract early, what should I do?
Leonard's approach is like this: if he doesn't give up a penny and insists on a super maximum salary, then he can reach a 4-year $234 million contract (guaranteed) with the Clippers, and the salary in the next 4 years will be $52.15 million + $56.32 million + $60.49 million + $64.67 million, with an annual salary increase of about 4.2 million. That's $81.2 million less than $152.4 million over three years! Leonard himself said that after three years of contract, I will be 35 years old, and I want to see how it will be at that time. To put it bluntly: Leonard doesn't want to take advantage of the team and doesn't want to be a vampire. Second, Leonard's salary cap in the first year, and the salary in the next year, compared with the salary cap, the gap is getting wider and wider, which paves the way for Harden! George's contract will not be higher than Leonard (Leonard sets the standard). Leonard's contract renewal, the biggest beneficiary is not George, but Harden!
According to the analysis of salary expert Bobby Marks, Harden's performance with the Clippers is not gorgeous, but his role is irreplaceable, and he still has the standard of an average salary of 30 million to 35 million US dollars. But with Tucker's departure a foregone conclusion, the Clippers maintain an overall salary standard of more than 200 million, which can not only meet Harden's salary requirements, but also have plenty of room for follow-up adjustments, the 76ers violated the law and harmed Harden, and here in the Clippers, after Harden won Leonard's trust with more than 30 games, Leonard chose the most selfless way: I take less money, George can stay, and Harden can stay. Wei Shao took the basic salary to play the leader of the locker room, and the big four performed their own duties, and the team atmosphere was too good.
Leonard is glowing, he's really full of big picture. was reluctant to defect to the Lakers, was chased by the media and fans, and had nothing in the previous 4 years. But any fan who watches some Clippers news knows that Leonard doesn't want to play, and even after he insisted on playing the second game with an injury in the playoffs last season, it was the team's medical team who found something abnormal, and the first inspection was a torn meniscus! A person's character, time will give the most correct answer, whether it is good or bad, good or hypocritical, time does not lie! After Harden came to the team this season, Harden responded in tandem, Leonard defended + ended, and George opened up space to project +Assist in defensive protection, as well as Wei Shao's impact to drive the substitutes, Tyronn Lue strictly controls the playing time of the Big Three within 35 minutes!
Stay healthy, who can compete with this Clippers? Leonard is not only thinking about this season, he is also thinking about the next 2-3 years, keeping George, keeping Harden, and taking the lead in making sacrifices! Taking a step back, even if this season is not successful, what about next year? What about the year after tomorrow? There will always be a time for success, right? God will never fail those who work hard! Harden leads the team to ensure the lower limit, and Leonard leads the team to raise the ceiling. It is very responsible to say that after Leonard made this decision, the league will come to an end, and I look forward to Harden and Wei Shao lifting the championship trophy this summer!