Bill Simmons Compares Clippers' Kawhi Leonard Decision to Luka Doncic Trade

There were some concerns about how legitimate the Clippers' signing of Leonard was, and questions about whether or not there were some under-the-table agreements between the two, but regardless, the superstar forward was a Clipper.

Leonard's career in LA

Through six years in LA, Leonard has played over 60 games just once, including the 2021-22 season that he missed entirely. Leonard's health seems to always be a concern, and now these Apsiration accusations have backed the Clippers into a tight corner completely.

Since Leonard signed with the Clippers, the team has made one Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021, but has not gotten past the first round since. The Leonard-led Clippers have seen minimal success, especially relative to what they had to give up to make it happen.

As part of Leonard's request from the Clippers before he signed, he wanted the franchise to trade for Paul George, who was coming off an MVP-caliber season with the OKC Thunder. However, it turned out to be one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, especially after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won both NBA MVP and Finals MVP last season.

Bill Simmons bashes the Clippers' move

The Ringer's Bill Simmons recently called the Clippers' decision to sign Kawhi Leonard the most "damaging transaction in the history of the league."

"The entire thing of going into business with [Leonard], all the stuff it cost them, all the players and the draft picks, plus this scandal. It has to be the most damaging transaction in the history of the league," Simmons said. "I don't even think you could compare it to anything."

Simmons' podcast guest, Joe House, brought up how the Dallas Mavericks' decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers is worse, but Simmons held his ground.

"[The Mavericks] end up with Cooper Flagg. In a roundabout way, it somehow worked out," Simmons said. "Just forget all the dumb reasons behind the trade. Would you trade Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg for Luka?"

Of course, when the Mavericks traded Doncic, the NBA was sent into a frenzy immediately. The Clippers' decision to trade for Paul George and bring in Leonard was not as devastating at the time, but over the last few years, it has grown into one of the worst things the franchise could have done, with no success to show for it. Still, time will tell if the Doncic trade is on that same level or not.