ESPN FIRST TAKE | Stephen A. Smith react to Kawhi Leonard will sign 4-yr/$141M max deal vs Clippers

Okay, Steven, he's talking, but he was supposed to be free today. He was supposed to be free today. Whether it was Will Cane, Dan Glossa or anyone else, I had to sit there, say, excuse me. They hit the brakes. I'll see. y'all coming on Tuesday this would be this is the

first

show since Kawhi Leonard pulled off a heist of epic proportions this is the

first

day I want to listen to since koala has officially become the dawn this is the first day I've been on the air Since Kawhi Leonard said the king gives him a kingmaker, who knows what I'm about to

take

out Cole a letter and no one saw this coming?

George Julie we also see it coming now. I've said repeatedly that I'm not going back to Toronto, that the Lakers are in play, but the Los Angeles Clippers had repeatedly told me in the days leading up to what finally happened that there's no way we're losing Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles to the Los Angeles Clippers. Angeles Lakers

will

either come to Toronto or come to us, meaning the Clippers, he's not going to the Lakers and I'll give you the backdrop of that story in just a second, here's the reality of Cole while he was in and he's here today as a champion. reigning, reigning NBA Finals MVP, he is a two-time champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP, this man told the Clippers, I want Paul George, you want me here to compete with LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing. in the same arena I need help and I need you to go look for Paul George from Oklahoma City don't worry if Paul George wants to come or not because I already talked to that brother hey that brother is already saying the goal Colón City Thunder he wants to go out and he is

will

ing to come to the Clippers everyone must do it misty Ballmer richest owner in sports in reality Steve Ballmer president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank head coach Doc Rivers forms an executive of the year possibly the greatest executive in basketball history the only Jerry West these are the four people who were in the room with Kawhi Leonard and his mom and his uncle Dennis Robinson and me the agent and some other guy these are the people who were in the room with Kawhi, what are they doing? they trade for unprotected first round picks, a protected first round pick and SWAT, two players in Danilo Gallinari and Che Gil, just Alexander, so it's not like Oklahoma City got hosed here, they got a ton for Paul.

George, who will be paid 33 million next year, who will be paid 35 million next year, after who will play an option on 37.8 million in 21 20 21 22 and if you are the Los Angeles Clippers considering the fact that you re

sign

ed to so many conjectures. ladies and gentlemen get over it it was a lot they had to do this they had to do this and you talk about Kawhi Leonard he's gone he's the man I want to hear you know the silent storm you know how to leave I tell you what, he's a damn silent storm. Things this guy did behind the scenes.

I mean, ladies and gentlemen, do you understand what happened here? This is a

deal

of all epic proportions. You are the Los Angeles Clippers. They have been clearly established. as a first-class organization, you have an elite of your own, an elite executive, like here, man, you have Lawrence Frank, former coach and assistant coach in this game, who knows basketball, who works, I'll sleep, he's a hard worker, his assistant Ringo. working for him, the great well of God and Doc Rivers is a Hall of Fame coach. People want to come play for Doc Rivers. Kauai Linen wanted to come play for Doc Rivers.

One of these is willing to admit it and tell everyone that another publicly wants this business. I want to tell you that's what happened and when you look at the Los Angeles Clippers, none of that would have been a lot of beans if they had lost Kauai and Kauai made the last move, Kauai Linnet organized there and we don't know if he was lying or not, but it sure didn't seem like he was lying. Kawhi Leonard sat there and said, "Oh, I can't come to Los Angeles and play in the same city in the same stadium that the Lakers compete against LeBron James and Anthony Davis and they don't have help.

If they give me help, I can't do nothing but if you guys give me help I'll go and that's what he did and as a result I'm here I'm letting you know right now ladies and gentlemen the best duo is LeBron and he can't Anthony Davis but the Clippers have a best team at this particular time. The pieces and parts match better. I understand that they got out of their Lakers and I recovered a little, sorry Danny Green, I overpaid them a little, but I still like Danny Green, the You

sign

ed, okay? Was it two years?

New 30 million, no, I think that was the number. I don't have the papers in front of me. Yo, you got Danny Green, you brought back Rajon Rondo on a two-year

deal

. Boogie cousins ​​listen. I don't like boogie cousins. He doesn't like me and I don't like him, but I'm fair and let me tell you. something right now I feel sorry for the brother from the point of view that you talk about a man who lost the money right now no no look at me when I'm talking to you you can make a legitimate argument that Isaiah Thomas and the boogie cousins they are in competition for guys who suffered injuries that cost them more money than anyone else Isaiah Thomas easily dumbs down his hips playing with what he had to endure trying to play through the pain etc.

That was the line for him to get between $150 million and $180 million last year. I signed in Denver for a year for myself, another contract and I signed to want you to deal with the boogie cousins ​​of the Washington Wizards, ladies and gentlemen, the man walks through our gin 28:12 and his Achilles tear that kept them He was out until last January, then he came. He returned and suffered a groin injury in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Clippers. This guy ends up signing a one-year contract for less than five million dollars. Boogie Cousins ​​easily had two injuries that cost him over $100 million. and Isaiah Thomas, I mean they can both make a legitimate argument, it may have cost him 140-150 million boogie Cousins.

He easily cost her that amount of money. Isaiah Thomas may cost a little less, but it cost both of them more than $100 million. The last time we saw Isiah Thomas fully healthy, he averaged twenty-eight nine twenty-eight point nine points per game a couple of years ago and look away, he's right now, I mean, it's tough, I mean, there are people in the media earning more money. that those guys, I mean the ankle, I mean there are small names, all those don't tell anyone's business, including mine, but there are people in the media who are paid more than those two, where we are now, that's how bad it is for them, no matter which one.

The way you break it down, what are the Clippers, ability, do the parts fit together best, ladies and gentlemen, what offense do you know will want to

take

on the Clippers this year? Paul George and Koala are not only superstars in the game but also its two-way players. who are superstars are elite on both ends of the court office on defense is there a best defensive point guard in NBA basketball that patrick beverley who is it? I want to know who he is because I don't know if that Montrose Harold you stayed He, Lou Williams, you stayed.

How in God's name do you get a deal done with the Oklahoma City Thunder to get Paul George and not be forced to give up Lou Williams? Can someone explain that to me? How does Sam Presti do it? Thank you. all the pictures he got, please understand. I understand. Lou Williams, the current Sixth Man of the Year or three-time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award, earning eight million dollars, the lowest paid player in the entire NBA. There is no one who is. more underpaid than Lou Williams instant offense $8 million How do you make a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers that forces you to give up Paul George and you don't get Lou Williams?

How does that happen? I know Lou Williams took a humiliation deal because he wanted to stay in L.A. and I know some little Clippers will fight like hell to keep him or whatever, but if I say Presti, I'd do everything I can to get my hands on Lou Williams. , everything in my power, but that is next to However, here is the bottom line, you are the Los Angeles Clippers, you have Harkless, you remember him from Portland, a very good defender, underrated, he is on your team now , Montrezl Harrell, is on your team, still Landry Sherman, ladies and gentlemen, the guy who was arrested in the idea of ​​the deal with Harris from the 76ers clip this Dukan ball, do you have any idea what the Clippers have available for them?

Kawhi can shoot Paul George shot Landry Schmidt was able to shoot Lou Williams was able to shoot Patrick Patrick Beverley can defend Harold can defend and is a The monster in the paint just gave you a physical beating. The Clippers have a great team. A legitimate argument can be made that they should be the favorites in the west. Now obviously again LeBron and Anthony Davis are a better duo, there's no denying it, but let's be clear. Make a great team or not, you brought Rondo back, you have Rondo and his boogie cousins ​​in the same locker room with Frank Vogel as your coach, Frank Vogel and not Doc Rivers, and for those who don't want to sit there, say Well, You know what Jason Kidd is really the coach behind the seats.

I have news. I love Jason Kidd. I believe he will officially be the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in two years. Guess what, he's not Doc Rivers either. I mean you look at the Clippers, baby, come on, what are we saying here? It's time to acknowledge the fact that these are no longer Donald Sterling's Clippers and, ladies and gentlemen, you want a virgin B to be just that and return to the dark days if Kawhi Leonard was serious with his threat that if you don't catch Paul George I'm not coming here. I'll have to go to the Lakers, enjoy LeBron and Anthony Davis if I was serious about it and then it happened, no one is thinking about the Clippers, they would have become an afterthought in Los Angeles once again, the days would have returned dark and people would have been saying Steve Ballmer, why did you move the team to Seattle, but because of this move orchestrated by Kawhi?

Leonard, the Lausanne Clippers are a player in the championship equation like the Los Angeles Lakers, this is something special for all of you and it doesn't say that ESPN is 1887 two nine three seven seven six, you are listening to the Stephenie's live.