So the Clippers made the call on Kawhi Leonard. They sent him to Toronto on Tuesday, and if you caught Nick Wright’s podcast, you know he’s genuinely fired up about what L.A. got back. Not in a polite, talking-head way either. He thinks the Clippers might have pulled something off here.
On the latest episode of “What’s Wright? With Nick Wright,” the Fox Sports analyst broke down the deal and made his case: for a 35-year-old forward with a long injury history, the return package looks pretty strong.
“I think the Clippers got great returns for a 35-year-old with massive injury risk to get Brandon Ingram on a reasonable contract, Grady Dick, two firsts, and a swap. I love that return,” Wright said. He also added a pointed message for Toronto: “And if you’re the Raptors, you hope and pray that for the first time since Kawhi’s first year with the Clippers that he can get through a playoff run past the first round and be healthy.”
What L.A. Actually Got
The Clippers brought in Brandon Ingram, a 28-year-old forward who just made his second All-Star team after a solid 77-game season. Ingram averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists last year, shooting 47.7% from the field and 38.2% from deep. He’s not just a scorer either. He helps on the glass and gives you secondary playmaking.
They also grabbed Gradey Dick, the former first-round pick who’s been bouncing around a bit. He started some games two seasons ago but saw his minutes drop to 14.0 per game last year. Maybe a change of scenery helps him figure things out. In three NBA seasons, he’s averaging 9.2 points, 2.5 boards, and 1.1 assists. Nothing flashy, but he’s still just 23.
And then there are the picks. Two first-rounders plus a swap. That’s the part that could really pay off down the line as Leonard gets older.
The Kawhi Part of This
Let’s not pretend Leonard is washed. He just finished maybe the best offensive season of his career. The numbers are wild: 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.9 steals per game, shooting 50.5% from the floor and 38.7% from three. He played 65 games too, which is actually the fifth-most he’s ever played in a single season.
But he’s also 35, and his knees have been a question mark for years. The Clippers are betting they can rebuild without him while Toronto is betting he can still carry a team. Both sides have a point it’s just a matter of which gamble hits.
For now, Wright is siding with L.A. And honestly, getting a current All-Star, a young lottery pick, and multiple firsts for a guy who might break down at any moment? That’s not a bad place to start.
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