While a report earlier this week stated that Kawhi Leonard‘s preference for next year is still to play in Los Angeles, joining either the Lakers or Clippers in free agency, that doesn’t mean that he has made up his mind about this being a one-and-done season with the Raptors. Appearing on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto, Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News expressed a belief that Toronto has a chance to re-sign Leonard in 2019.
“Based off of me talking to people within his circle, they’re going to go into this thing with an open mind and give this thing every last opportunity to work,” Young said, according to Ben Rohrbach of Yahoo Sports. “Obviously, I think part of his mind, yes, let’s keep it real: I think he still feels like L.A. might be the destination, but the same time, he plans to go into this thing with an open mind, giving it every single shot in the world to make it work.”
When the Raptors agreed to trade for Leonard last month, team president Masai Ujiri did so with a “determination” that he could convince the star forward to remain with the franchise for more than one year, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski noted earlier this week. The Raptors are already taking early steps to try to win over Leonard, having reached a deal to hire former Spurs staffer Jeremy Castleberry, who is good friends with Kawhi.
Even if Leonard still favors Los Angeles for now, much can change over the course of a year. The Lakers and Clippers aren’t necessarily locks to make the playoffs in an incredibly competitive Western Conference, so if both L.A. teams have down years and a healthy Leonard helps lead the Raptors to a deep postseason run, that would presumably have an impact on his thinking as he hits the open market in 2019.
Leonard technically remains under contract for two more seasons, but can decline a 2019/20 player option and become a free agent next summer.
I think they are confusing “they’re going to go into this thing with an open mind and give this thing every last opportunity to work” with, ‘they are going to try and make the best of a bad situation, and hope the year goes quickly’.
Being traded to the best team in the East, with the best GM in the league, and a young roster that should push to be a top 5 team on both ends of the floor… is a bad situation?
Never mind that Toronto is top 3 (at worst) NBA city.
This is the best thing that ever happened to Kawhi. He’s going to love it there and dominate the East for the next half-decade.
Preach
New coach. Not LA. Nowhere near home. High taxes. Next best players on the team are Kyle Lowry & Serge Ibaka. I think you may be wrong…
Also, it’s a new season, they’re not anything. And they didn’t make the finals, so they weren’t the best team in the East…
Making the Finals doesn’t make you the best team. Getting hot at the right time does!
I’m pretty certain that next year will prove otherwise.
If everything goes wrong, the Raptors could be just a top 3 team in the East. But the won a ton last year with a far worse roster.
If you pay more taxes living in Toronto as a basketball player than playing in LA, you have a really bad accountant. There’s pretty much zero difference in the taxes between LA and Toronto. Check Jalen Rose on that.
Serge Ibaka would be a really bad 3rd best player, you’re right. But he’s not even a top 7 player on the Raptors.
I’m pretty certain you’re wrong.
If everything goes wrong top three seed? That doesn’t make sense will probably be 7 or 8 if everything goes wrong.
Taxes are way higher in Canada than they are in LA. Don’t check Jalen Rose, check the facts on that.
There’s 6 players better on the Raptors than Serge Ibaka? Not sure if that’s true.
Best GM? Have you heard of Danny Ainge?
Everything you just described is the Celtics, not the Raptors. And I’m a Cavs fan so I can’t stand them.
Really? are you talking about Toronto? Sorry man I have them at #5 in the east with a probable 1st round exit in the playoffs, so cannot see them dominating anything apart of been the top Canadian team in the league, that they will be.
5th?
Dude, do you even watch any basketball?
Do you follow any actual basketball stats?
Do you know what a basketball is?
I’m embarrassed for you that you posted that publicly.
Do you even lift bro?
Calm down. I dont agree with him but he didnt say 15th, he said 5th. Celts, Sixers, Bucks & Pacers could squeeze them out with an injury or two. Who said you are correct about Raptors best team, best GM? That statement is more than a stretch. So check your own basketball Bona Fides. How do you know Kawhi wont pull up lame this season like he did last? Have a crystal ball? Kahwi played 9 games last season! 9 games pathetic. Lonzo played more than he did. Pathetic
Dude you’re new. Easy with the insults.
Kawhi showed this last summer that not even he knows what he will do. He’s not year to year, or month to month, he’s day to day. For the Lakers. LeBron is the first free agent to want to come to L.A. in years, and he’s more about money than any player in the league. And for those not wanting to play second fiddle to LeBron, Kyrie showed it’s not such a bad thing. He should be in the next 4 finals, LeBron won’t. Kyrie is class too. He has been giving money to the Indian tribe his mother is from. He was dedicated this week in an Indian ceremony in South Dakota and was named “Little Mountain.” His families last Indian name was Mountain. For those who don’t like Kyrie, he has played in 5 all star games in a row. Danny Ainge loves him, that’s all that matters. For Kawhi, he’ll be like PG. The media will be saying Lakers for the next year. Kawhi will tell us when he’s ready.
kawhiordie.com
Let’s convince him to stay.
Toronto is not a city many NBA players (at least American born NBA players) would consider attractive all other things being equal. But all other things are never equal. Players are their own business, but they’re also people and young ones with financial flexibility. Toronto will be his home for a full season, and, more importantly, outside of his immediate family, the organization (teammates, coaches and executives) will include the most significant people in his world for the same period. These things matter. Positively or negatively. In San Antonio, the critical ties to the organization turned negative, and he didn’t just leave, but demanded out despite so many other business positives, including a likely a super-max contract. That decision wasn’t only about business, and his next one won’t be either. Either way, a new current team should never be dismissed based on prior statements or demands that will seem like distant memories to him by next summer.
Toronto will be rolling out their Raptor red carpets for Kawhi, and if necessary, their Raptor black, gold, silver & white ones as well.
He is open minded now, but once he expierences the Canadian winter and having to go through customs every road trip he will change his mind.