Report: Bowen out as Clippers analyst after critical comments about Kawhi

Efforts to appease Kawhi Leonard ahead of his free agency next offseason have already begun.

As a result, Bruce Bowen won't be back for the 2018-19 season as a Los Angeles Clippers analyst after making critical comments about Leonard's situation in San Antonio last season, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

With the removal of Bowen, the Clippers are showing Leonard he'll be protected from criticism if he signs with the organization, Wojnarowski added, whose sources tell him the two-time All-Star is primarily interested in signing with the Clippers or Los Angeles Lakers next summer.

"I think there's nothing but excuses going on," Bowen said to SiriusXM Radio on June 22 while discussing Leonard. "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?"

Bowen was expected back alongside legendary play-by-play man Ralph Lawler this season before making the critical comments about Leonard. He replaced longtime Fox Sports West color analyst Michael Smith ahead of the 2017-18 season.