Kawhi Leonard says Paul George's departure was 'no surprise' - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Kawhi Leonard talked with Paul George throughout the season about his contract negotiations and said he was not surprised when George left to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

In his first comments about George's departure, Leonard said Friday that he and George knew what needed to happen for the duo to stay together with the LA Clippers.

George ended up signing a four-year, $212 million deal in free agency with the Sixers.

«We knew what it was before the season,» Leonard said after USA Basketball's practice on Tuesday. «We knew what it was going to come down to. So, we talked the whole way through.

»It's no surprise."

Clippers coach Ty Lue told ESPN that he talked several times with George in an effort to keep him with the team. Lue said «it was tough» losing his All-Star guard in free agency.

«You lose an important piece to the team like PG, it's hard to replace,» Lue, an assistant coach for USA Basketball, told ESPN. «I'm disappointed that we weren't able to get the deal done, disappointed he didn't come back. It's tough for the organization. We got to see how we move forward from here.

»I talked to him many times, trying to see what his mindset was, what we need to do different, how we can help his process along. It's unfortunate that he left."

George said on his «Podcast P with Paul George» that the Clippers initially offered him a two-year deal worth $60 million, which he described as «disrespectful.» George detailed that the Clips inched their offer up through the season.

When the Clippers signed Leonard to a three-year, $150 million extension in early January, George said he would have accepted the same deal. But George said talks were tabled around the All-Star break and that once the season was