Over the past weeks, many sports analysts have been talking about the next move of Kawhi Leonard after his impressive feat at Toronto Raptors during the recently concluded NBA season. There were reports several days ago that the LA Lakers is interested with the NBA star. But a new report recently claimed that he is turning down the $21.3 million Player Option for NBA 2019-2020 season but is also seriously reconsidering signing again with the Toronto Raptors.
Just recently, Yahoo's Chris Hayes reported that Kawhi Leonard would turn down the $21.3 million player option for the upcoming NBA season but is also gravely reconsidering if he is going to be a part of the Toronto Raptors. There were earlier predictions that the 2019 NBA Finals MVP is going to leave the Raptors for the A Lakers. But the latest report from Hayes seems to have changed things a little bit.
Leonard has led the team to its first-ever NBA title. During the finals, he averaged 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds, which has greatly affected the target three-peat championship win of the Golden State Warriors. After Toronto defeated the Golden State Warriors, it is expected that Leonard would sign again with the franchise. Although there were conflicting reports, the most consistent has been the NBA star's desire to play in the LA Lakers.
The report also said that the front-office executives of the competing team think of the Toronto Raptors as the favorite team to house Leonard. The NBA 2019 Champion, according to the report, can offer the NBA star a five-year contract of $190 million. Although the idea of going home to Southern California is appealing, the Raptors has already built trust with the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the year.
Yahoo Sources: Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard declining $21.3 million player option to become unrestricted free agent with the Finals MVP seriously considering re-signing. https://t.co/cWhpcyyjXO pic.twitter.com/c8qNBOi0Nu — Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 23, 2019
For the first time in five seasons, it seems that the landscape of the NBA is changing given the uncertain position of the Golden State Warriors in the upcoming season because of the injuries. Because of this, the LA Lakers traded its young players and draft pick to the New Orleans Pelicans (except Kyle Kazuma) for Anthony Davis. The Golden State Warriors, on the other hand, are not really into news related to Kawhi Leonard.
In regards to the LA Lakers, it is still unclear how much cap size they still have after the Anthony Davis trade. With just a week remaining until the NBA free agency officially starts on June 30, various NBA teams are doing their best to make sure that they have a better lineup for a much improved and stronger team come NBA 2019-2020 season. Will Leonard sign again with the Raptors or is he going to play for the LA Lakers? We will hear more news about Kawhi Leonard's decision in the coming days.
