Kawhi Leonard is one of the most, if not the most sought after free agent in this summer. Kevin Durrant was the one who held that title before, but the long term Achilles injury that will keep him out for a whole season means that Kawhi Leonard’s stock has since risen. Of course, leading your team to their first ever NBA championship and being declared the NBA Finals MVP helps as well.
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Battle between the LA clubs for Kawhi Leonard
The Toronto Raptors are hopeful that the championship win will sway Kawhi’s mind and make him stay at the club with a max five-year contract.
The Los Angeles Clippers, meanwhile, are doing all they can to land Kawhi Leonard. He is their number 1 target for the summer, and the franchise is confident that they will get their star man.
“Not a two-horse race”: Fox’s Cris Carter
Fox Sports’ journalist and reporter Cris Carter claims that the battle to sign Kawhi Leonard won’t be a two-fold one. He claims that at least five teams are in the race to sign the All-Star. Along with the two Los Angeles franchises and his current club the Raptors, the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets are also interested in him.
.@criscarter80 reports that Kawhi Leonard will consider the Lakers, Clippers, Raptors, Knicks and Nets in free agency, with Toronto as the current favorite. pic.twitter.com/JotbqLNF8H
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) June 17, 2019
It is the details of the Anthony Davis trade that will be key in deciding where Kawhi Leonard heads off to. The Davis deal cannot be officially completed for a few more weeks. Unless the announcement of the Anthony Davis deal is pushed off till July 30, the Lakers wouldn’t be able to afford a max contract for Kawhi Leonard.
The Knicks, meanwhile, are working on landing a meeting with Leonard and hoping to convince him to join their team.
It will all be much more clear when the free agency begins from July 1.
