[Vardon] “I woke up and saw it on social media… I’m just as confused and shocked as you,” Harden said. “I read a little bit about it in the morning,” added Leonard. “I didn’t even know what Chris was talking about (on social media). I had to re-read the message and see what was going on.”
Leonard said he was not privy to negotiations last summer around Paul’s role were he to return to LA.
“I wasn’t in those conversations with them and what they agreed to before you know the year started in the summer,” Leonard said. “All I know is my conversations with him and it was always positive. Looking to find ways to get the team better and what ways we could get better as a unit.”
Harden, who led the Clippers with 27 points on Wednesday as they snapped a five-game losing streak, said the team’s problems were “not just Chris.”
“It’s a lot that we are dealing with,” Harden continued. “That right there is out of my hands (parting ways with Paul). I gotta focus on what I can control. But it was definitely a surprise. I guess the front office felt that that was the best decision for the organization.”