NBA Notebook: Kawhi Leonard deserves respect for picking tougher path to title; Worst deals of free agency

Three years ago, Kevin Durant took the easy way out when deciding to sign with the Golden State Warriors. For one of the five best players in the league, the basketball fit was tremendous in the Bay Area. After years of dealing with the highs and lows of Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma City, Durant would be surrounded by a trio of high IQ stars and a stellar supporting cast.

The problem for Durant and his legacy was that he was going to a place in Golden State that won without him and probably could have done so again even if he didn’t sign there. It would never be his team even after he helped ensure more titles for the franchise. That’s a reality that he never seemed to come to grips with until the past year. The fulfillment was probably never going to be there for him and his dominance as a player will never be fully embraced or acknowledged after he voluntarily elected to stack the deck against the rest of the league. He could have joined an emerging upstart in Boston with plenty of options to further improve the roster. He could have stayed home in Oklahoma City and try to cement his legacy. Instead, he picked the safe path for a title, a choice he opted out of continuing by picking to start fresh in Brooklyn this summer.

Kawhi Leonard faced a somewhat similar situation to Durant this summer with his free agency decision in terms of team choices. He could have joined a pair of superpowers with the Lakers in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, forming a new super team to take the throne from the Warriors dynasty for the foreseeable future. Staying put in Toronto was also an appealing option to defend a title with a mix of young and seasoned talent, a comparable choice to OKC for Durant.

Leonard wanted the best of both worlds when it comes to geography and competition though. While any choice to stay with the Raptors would have been universally applauded from a competition standpoint, the worst kept secret in the NBA was his desire to play in LA.

The fact is the Clippers situation in 2019 was highly comparable to what the Celtics could offer Durant in 2016 (with an arguably better surrounding cast in LA). Respect needs to be given to Leonard for taking a path that isn’t stacking the deck with co-stars to walk over the rest of the league. The Clippers have plenty of great role pieces but they also gave up all of their draft assets for a co-star in George to pair with Leonard. This is ultimately going to be Kawhi’s team when all is said and done. It won’t be easy for him to win a title but he has put himself in a great position to do it and will just add to his legacy for choosing this path instead of one that guarantees titles across town.

Perhaps Durant’s choice served as a cautionary tale for Leonard on that front. Either way, the NBA will be a better product next year because of it.

Worst deals of NBA Free Agency

Terry Rozier: Three years, $58 million (Hornets) — This is one of the more baffling contracts in recent memory and it’s also the kind of deal that Rozier was aiming for last fall, according to league sources. Even then, this type of money would seem a little bit too ambitious given his average efficiency as a starter. However, after a woeful campaign with the Celtics this past year, the Hornets are seemingly ignoring any of the potential red flags that cropped up in Boston. They are in need for a point guard in Charlotte after Kemba Walker’s departure but this reeks of desperation. A far superior piece like Malcolm Brogdon is only earning $2 million more annually from the Pacers next year, while Rozier is making a lot more than far more proven veterans such as Patrick Beverley, George Hill and Derrick Rose. There is the prospect of Rozier’s added upside in a starting role but his track record over the last four years makes it pretty clear who he is as a player at age 25. With a subpar supporting cast around in Charlotte, it’s going to be very tough for Rozier to improve his efficiency and his passing is not known as a strength either. Charlotte’s future was looking plenty dreary as is and committing this type of money to Rozier puts them on track to being a bottom-five team in the league this year.

Tobias Harris: Five years, $180 million (Sixers) — I like Harris a lot as a player but he’s also a guy who has been traded four times in the last four years. The Sixers were boxed into a corner to give him a max after giving up so many assets for him midseason but it’s hard to envision him living up to this type of money over the long term. He was a clear cut third option during the postseason, averaging just 15 points per game on 42 percent shooting. There will be more opportunities for him now with Jimmy Butler out the door but there was a reason the Clippers moved him before they had to pay him. He’s not worth this kind of money and given his average defense, this is not a contract I’d expect to age well.

Ricky Rubio: Three years, $51 million (Suns) — After a second straight ugly playoff exit against the Rockets, the Jazz let Rubio walk in free agency as they searched for more shooting. The Suns were desperate for a point guard but paying a guy $17 million that shot 40 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3-point range feels like a reach. Rubio will turn 29 in the fall so he’s entering the tail end of his prime. This feels like a similar reach to the Hornets with Rozier.

DeAndre Jordan: Four years, $40 million (Nets) — Can you call it a bad signing if it helps ensures that the Nets land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving? Both guys took a slight discount for their 7-foot friend, but Jordan is far from a $10 million player at this stage of his career. Perhaps playing for a better team will light a fire under him, but locking up $40 million on him when the Nets have a better player at center in Jarrett Allen is a net negative. Jordan will probably earn the starting job in order to keep his star teammates happy but the playing time dynamics in Brooklyn have the potential to get tricky if he wants to be treated like a former All-Star.

Cory Joseph: Three years, $37 million (Kings) — Starter level money for a bench player. The Kings already have their point guard of the future in De’Aaron Fox so it seems a bit unwise to invest so much money in his backup. Joseph is a solid defender but his offensive game does not move the need much. His outside shot (32.2 percent from 3) remains a big question mark and this appears to be another big deal that will be dumped a year or two down the road, just like George Hill was two seasons ago.