Welcome to the Free Agency File.



In this modern-day NBA world in which the discussion about soon-to-be-available superstars is a year-round exercise, I’ll chime in with insight and information every so often with one interest in mind: Adding some depth to this conversation that is so often surface level. In this debut edition, it’s time to take a look at fascinating dance between Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers.



We’ve known for months now that the Clippers have Leonard at the center of their 2019 summer plans. The Clippers have room for one max-salary player and are in prime position to create room for another, and it’s all eyes on Leonard and Golden State’s Kevin Durant as they try to steal the show from LeBron James and his Lakers in Tinsel Town.



Yet while Leonard sitting out with a hip problem against the Clippers on Tuesday made it anticlimactic for everyone focused on the floor, that wasn’t the case behind the scenes.