The Toronto Raptors’ disorganized championship parade is over, and the NBA off-season has begun in earnest. The overhyped “Plant Guy” was successful in his attempt to give pending free agent Kawhi Leonard a housewarming gift. But the question remains- Which city will Leonard be placing that plant?
Five options have emerged, with two of them being the most obvious. Still, in likely one of the busiest NBA free agency periods in history, absolutely anything can happen. We’re in the era of unprecedented player movement, so hardly anything should be completed ruled out.
Leonard Can Re-Sign With The Toronto Raptors
Fresh off a championship and a Finals MVP, it’s not terribly difficult to make the argument for Leonard to stay. Throw in the fact that Toronto’s top eight players are essentially under contract for next season. Only Danny Green is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. Marc Gasol has already indicated he will opt in if Leonard re-signs. So the table is set for the Raptors to run it back for a title defense.
It has to be an incredibly tantalizing option for Leonard. Possibly even the favorite. Toronto can also offer roughly $50 million more than any other NBA team. It’s because of the CBA that has been geared towards small-market teams having a better opportunity to retain their stars. So Leonard would be turning down quite a bit to sign elsewhere.
Los Angeles Clippers
As has been widely reported all season, Toronto’s main competition for Leonard’s services are the overhyped Los Angeles Clippers. With an emerging reputation as a well-managed franchise with strong ownership, the Clippers real draw is their proximity to Leonard’s off-season home in San Diego. Reputedly very close to his family, his decision may come down to kin. From a basketball standpoint, though, it’s hard to understand why Leonard would leave $50 million on the table. It’s because he would be signing with a sparse roster of unproven talent.
The Clippers have never won a championship in their 49 years in the NBA, and most of their 2018-19 roster are available free agents. Most of the remaining Clippers were rookies last year or veterans 30 years of age or older with problematic injury histories. The draw to be near family must be incredibly real, as the basketball reasons to select the “other” L.A team are quite absurd. Still, for a player like Leonard, who has already proven himself to be a first ballot Hall of Famer at the age of 27, this decision may not be about basketball at all.
Los Angeles Lakers
This rumor seems extremely far-fetched, as the Los Angeles Lakers’ cap situation is quite tenuous in the wake of the Anthony Davis trade. Leonard would have to take a significant discount in order to become the third wheel on a team led by LeBron James, who he’s already beaten in the NBA Finals. Forming a Super Team alliance for less money and prestige definitely seems like a stretch. But Leonard’s fondness for playing near family is surely a factor here. Still, the Lakers have so little cap room left to fill out the rest of their roster. So it’s quite unlikely Leonard wears the purple and gold anytime soon.
Brooklyn Nets
Probably the most intriguing rumor, but it speaks to Leonard’s need for a big market team to amplify awareness of his talent. The Brooklyn Nets do have cap flexibility and some intriguing role players to work with. But the Nets currently don’t possess championship pedigree and are facing uncertainty. And while Brooklyn is obviously nowhere near Los Angeles, the basketball reasons aren’t absurd. Still, it would be hard to understand why Leonard would take a harder path to the Finals in the Eastern Conference, while giving up $50 million in order to do so.
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks rumor is the biggest surprise, and the least likely. But the Knicks do have the cap space and the media market. However, they also possess the worst ownership in the league and the least talented roster. It would certainly make a splash, but would also go against every piece of logic involved in Leonard’s criteria. Consider this news the invention of a New York-based publicist.
The Raptors, Clippers Are The Main Two Competitors To Sign Leonard
In summation, the main two competitors are Toronto and the Clippers. While both have strong reputations in management, the Raptors have much stronger basketball (and financial) reasons to be Leonard’s destination of choice.
Still, the dominant rumor all season has been that his decision will be based more on lifestyle and proximity to family, as opposed to basketball or money. For a player who has accomplished a lot by the age of 27, the NBA’s most unpredictable superstar is a complete wildcard. Nobody truly knows what he is going to do, but with NBA free agency beginning on June 30th, the world will soon discover where Leonard’s housewarming plant will be located.
Bobby Del Rio
