Report: Bruce Bowen Out as Clippers TV Analyst After Kawhi Leonard Criticism

Fox Sports West reportedly declined to renew the contract of Los Angeles Clippers television analyst Bruce Bowen after he made comments critical of Kawhi Leonard in June, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reported Monday.

Per that report, "Bowen was under contract with Fox Sports West, but the Clippers—like every organization—have significant input into the hiring of television broadcast talents and withheld approval on extending his contract, sources said."

Bowen served as a color commentator for the team's broadcasts alongside play-by-play man Ralph Lawler during the 2017-18 season.

On June 22, Bowen made an appearance on Sirius XM Radio and was critical of how Leonard handled his departure from San Antonio (h/t Wojnarowski):

"I think there's nothing but excuses going on. First, it was, 'Well I was misdiagnosed.' Look here: You got $18 million this year, and you think that they're trying to rush you? You didn't play for the most part a full season this year. And you're the go-to guy, you're the franchise, and you want to say that they didn't have your best interest at heart? Are you kidding me?

"I think he's getting bad advice. I think what you're starting to see now is an individual given a certain amount of advice, and it's not the right advice. Here it is: You were protected in San Antonio. You were able to come up during a time where you still could lean on Tim [Duncan], Tony [Parker] and Manu [Ginobili]."

Wojnarowski reported the Clippers are considered one of the front-runners along with the Los Angeles Lakers to land Leonard during free agency next summer and that "eliminating Bowen becomes a clear message about how [they plan] to protect star players within the organization."

Bowen's comments may have cut deeper, too, since he was a former player with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich. Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors in July after a falling out in which the Spurs and Leonard disagreed on how to handle his quadriceps issues.

Assuming Leonard, who played nine games in 2017-18, plays a full season for Toronto and returns to being one of the game's elite two-way forces, he'll be a headliner in what is expected to be a loaded free-agent class next offseason—if he declines his $21.3 million player option for 2019-20.

The Clippers have $48.7 million in practical cap space for next summer, per Spotrac, and could clear enough space to offer a max contract to both Leonard and another elite free agent such as Kevin Durant (player option), Kyrie Irving (player option), Jimmy Butler (player option) or Klay Thompson (unrestricted), depending on who hits the market.