Kawhi Leonard: The Most Expensive Free Agent in NBA History

Kawhi Leonard's signing with the Los Angeles Clippers before the 2019-20 season has made him the most costly free agent in NBA history. The Clippers have incurred significant expenses, including draft picks, salary, luxury tax, and alleged illegal payments, to secure his services.

To entice Leonard from the Toronto Raptors, the Clippers traded five first-round picks and one pick swap for Paul George, alongside other players. This move transformed the Clippers into one of the league's highest payroll teams, with Leonard earning $293.8 million over seven seasons and George receiving $196 million over five seasons.

The financial burden escalated with the NBA's investigation, resulting in a $30 million fine and the forfeiture of five first-round picks, bringing the total cost of Leonard's acquisition to ten first-rounders and one swap. The Clippers' total expenditure related to Leonard is estimated to exceed a billion dollars, with the team winning only three playoff series during his tenure, one of which occurred while he was injured.