2021-2022 ROSTER TALK: [ARCHIVED]

[F Gump]

@"F Gump" I guess the question with this becomes: what has changed in Leonard's situation this summer from the one when he signed a 2+1 with the Clippers? In your mind, is it just about the injury?

The whole situation has changed.

When he did the deal with the Clipps, he was signing at the 30% max salary tier, and all the years on that deal would be based on that 30%. He knew he would be eligible for 35% in any new deal after 2 years.

So he signed for 2 years to get him to that 35% tier, so he could then sign for a long-term deal where he's getting paid at 35%.

This is that 35% tier deal he planned for, with teams ready and still willing to pay him for as long as the rules allow. That would be 4 years total (with the 4th potentially an option year).

The fact that he has also dealt with significant injury issues for a few years that haven't gone away, combined with the fact he is currently sidelined by major injury, is yet another incentive that didn't exist before, to lock in the longest full-max deal possible "just in case."

When I add all that up, I don't see any incentive for him to want a shorter deal. It just wouldn't make sense.