Kawhi Leonard didn’t feel like discussing his upcoming free agency after leading the Raptors to their first-ever NBA championship, but he did talk about trust, relays Sam Amick of The Athletic. Leonard completed a comeback story by being named NBA Finals MVP a year after being limited to nine games because of a quad injury. That led to a messy divorce with the Spurs, whose team doctors disagreed with the diagnosis of Leonard’s personal physicians.
“Last year, a lot of people were doubting me,” Leonard said. “They thought I was either faking an injury or didn’t want to play for a team. That was disappointing to go me that that was out in the media, because I love the game of basketball. Like I always say, if we’re not playing this game, if we’re hurt, I mean you’re down. So me just going through that, and I just knew that I would have to make myself happy and no one else. And I have to trust myself. And whatever, it doesn’t matter what anybody has to say about me. I know who I am as a person, I know how I feel, and always just trust yourself. And that was my goal and my focus. And that’s why one of the things that I take on the floor.”
There has been speculation about Leonard’s next move since he was traded to Toronto last July, and Amick acknowledges that originally that’s not where he wanted to go. There’s no guarantee that leading a team to a title will make Leonard interested in a longer relationship, but he now has a bond with the city and the organization that wasn’t there before.
“You bring a championship to this country, man – not just this city, but this country and this organization – within one year, that’s legendary type stuff,” longtime teammate Danny Green said.”Regardless of what he does, he did his job.”
There’s more this morning from Toronto:
- The Raptors will give Leonard and his representatives freedom to pick whatever contract length they want, ranging from one to five years, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Leonard is eligible for a five-year deal worth $189.7MM, but there have been rumors he might want a shorter commitment. Marks speculates that he may seek a three-year pact worth $106MM with a player option after the second year, putting him back into free agency in 2022 with 10 years of service.
- Marks believes the team should wait before giving an extension to Pascal Siakam, who will be eligible this offseason. A strong contender for Most Improved Player, Siakam would have just a $7MM cap hold next summer without an extension, roughly $22MM less than the first year of a max salary. If Leonard doesn’t re-sign, Toronto projects to have $69MM to $86MM in cap space available for 2020.
- The Raptors tried to sign the recently retired Channing Frye last summer, but he opted to stay with the Cavaliers because of his familiarity with the organization and a pledge from the front office to try to contend, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
If the GM leaves, KL will leave. Wizards offering a slice of the pie…he takes it…and Obama will get involved too. :)
I want what your smoking
No guarantee Washington even gets to make their offer. Why would MLSE grant permission when he’s still under contract for 2 more years
not to mention while the number is high, people dont understand how much money MLSE has probably made off this run. This raps run (not including the post win revenue opportunities) likely has netted this team in the range of a quarter billion dollars of extra unplanned revenue.
Obama’s a raps fan. did you not watch the playoffs :)
The man can go in peace. This Raptors squad has probably just one more run, and that’s it. Ibaka, Gasol, Lowry, won’t play at this level ever again, and next year one of either Bucks, Celtics or Sixers will figure it out and beat them. The energy levels and motivation just won’t be the same in Toronto next season, that’s the way sports work, it’s almost impossible to repeat, you become everyone’s prey. So then, I think he should go to the LAC, if not now, in 2020, but why take a shorter deal now and risk an injury?
That’s exactly true. Remember game seven against the Sixers that 4 bounce shot that went in by Leonard to win the game.
Sports is such a crap shoot. You just never know.
And Siakam, the way he moves, would have to have tendons of steel to avoid what happened to Durant, except earlier because Siakam tries harder.
Best move for Kawhi, stay for 2-years & try to win another title or an MVP. After that, he’ll still be in his prime, he can move on to a long-term contract maybe in LA (Lebron would be on his 4th & last year) and take over Hollywood.
Hard not Stay after winning. Hard to repeat! He live by a whole Country to boot not bad for a Shy Guy. He will never buy a meal again in Toronto!
All these finals narratives are really distracting from tha Women’s World Cup. And then there’s the draft, then free agency. Gosh darn so much to think about!
Leonard certainly rehabbed his image this year. The Spurs will continue to be the Spurs, Leonard will be Leonard. It seems as though both sides have a solid future.
A real good fit would be with nets, a lot of young talent around him