Los Angeles Clippers All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard addressed several topics in a wide-ranging interview Saturday, including the retirement of future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul and the moves made by the Clippers prior to the trade deadline.

Speaking to Chris Haynes of the NBA on Prime, Leonard was asked about announcing his retirement Friday after he was traded from the Clippers to the Toronto Raptors and subsequently waived:

“I only had him for a quick second, but I’ve been knowing him half his career now, the last 14 years,” Leonard said. “He’s always been great, a leader, a guy that cares about his family as well. Gives you advice on and off the floor. He used to be one of my favorite players coming up. Watched him a lot growing up about his leadership and how dedicated he was to trying to win a basketball game, his handles, his IQ. Salute to him. He did it for many years, especially at a guard position, you don’t see that a lot. … Congratulations to him and his career.”

After spending six seasons with the Clippers from 2011 to 2017 and establishing himself as one of the best players in team history, Paul returned for a second tour of duty with the team this season at the age of 40.

However, Paul was shut down and sent home after just 16 games, with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reporting that Paul’s criticism of players and coaches was not considered “constructive” and created a “schism” within the organization.

Amid that drama, the Clippers started the season 6-21 and seemed destined to be among the worst teams in the league, but they have turned things around since then, winning 20 of their last 27 games to improve to 26-28.

Despite being back in the thick of the playoff race and in a play-in spot currently, the Clippers were sellers at the deadline, sending star guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for guard Darius Garland and a second-round pick, and center Ivica Zubac and guard Kobe Brown to the Indiana Pacers for wing Bennedict Mathurin, center Isaiah Jackson, two first-round picks and one second-round pick.

Leonard commented on the Clippers’ new roster makeup, saying, “Hopefully we do [have time to come together as a team this season]. Obviously right now with the roster, we’re not contenders. We got a lot of young guys that’s learning. We want Darius to be healthy for the second half. If he’s there available for the second half he is, but we really need him to be ready to go next year. That’s my mindset. Ben [Mathurin] has been great so far. He played the last two games, made some competitive plays down the stretch, helped us win a basketball game. Just looking for us to stay healthy and just try to get a playoff berth if we can and just try to have some fun in the playoffs.”

While it can be argued that the Clippers’ roster was downgraded at the deadline, they got younger and potentially lengthened their window of playoff contention into future years.

Garland, who is a two-time All-Star in his own right, has yet to appear in a game with his new team due to a toe injury, but he could provide a big boost once he is healthy as well.

Leonard seemed to be looking ahead to next season while also holding out hope for a playoff run this season, and that is very much within the realm of possibility since L.A. is 10th in the Western Conference and has a 5.5 game lead for the final play-in spot.