Kawhi Leonard told NBA media at Team USA training camp that Paul George’s departure from the Los Angeles Clippers for the Philadelphia 76ers did not surprise him.

Following the failure of negotiations with the Clippers, George signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the Sixers.

“We knew what it was before the season,” Leonard explained to ESPN. “We knew what it would come down to. So we talked all the way through. “It’s not surprising.”

In January, the Clippers extended Leonard’s contract for three years and $153 million. On his podcast, George stated that LAC offered him a three-year, $150 million contract.

When George requested a no-trade clause in the deal, the Clippers declined.

The Clippers declined George’s request for a four-year contract worth $212 million that did not include a no-trade clause.

Tyronn Lue, an assistant with Team USA, told ESPN that he was “disappointed” when George left for the Sixers.

“You lose an important piece to the team like PG, it’s hard to replace,” said Lue to ESPN. “I’m unhappy that we weren’t able to close the deal, and that he didn’t return. It’s challenging for the organization. We’ll see what happens next. I spoke with him several times, attempting to understand his perspective, what we needed to do differently, and how we might move his process along. It is bad that he left.

George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks for the Clippers in 2023-24, shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc, and 90.7% from the line.

In the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, the Clippers were defeated in six games by the Dallas Mavericks

“I owed Kawhi that conversation,” George explained on his podcast. “I called him and said, ‘Man, listen, I think I’m going somewhere else.'” My conversations with the Clippers did not go as planned. I sort of broke down like I told you guys how it all went down, and we had that chat, and I was like, dude, I’ve got to do what’s best. He understood, saying, “Go get your bag, P, and your back.” I can’t be upset with you. I consider Kawhi to be one of my best friends in this league. Someone I f— with. Our families adore each other. So it was difficult to leave him just with How much I enjoyed being outside with him. One of the most difficult decisions I had to make was to leave my boy. But I needed to have that conversation with him. We talked, and he offered me his blessing, saying, “Man, just do what’s best for you.”