You didn't think he'd be rushing to make an important announcement, did you? Unrestricted free agent Kawhi Leonard—reigning NBA Finals MVP—is set to tell the world where he's playing next…just not yet.
Per Dallas Morning News reporter Brad Townsend, Leonard's free-agency decision could “drag” on another day or two or longer.
Leonard, who was traded to Toronto from the San Antonio over the summer of 2018, is reportedly interested in re-signing with the Raptors or going out west to either the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers. It's believed former team president and NBA great Magic Johnson will be in the meeting between Kawhi and Lakers brass. Johnson left the team in shambles, resigning in front of assembled media before even telling his boss, controlling owner Jeanie Buss. Rob Pelinka stepped up afterward and completed a monstrous deal that traded All-NBA big man Anthony Davis to the Lakers for multiple first-round picks and young players Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart.
Article Continues BelowNow, with LeBron James and Davis, the Lakers are hoping on pitching the remaining cap space available to be used to sign the two-time NBA champion Leonard, who's from Los Angeles.
The silence from Kawhi's end is unsurprising. Leonard's relationship with the San Antonio Spurs sourced at the end of his tenure in Texas, finding himself separated from team activities and communication. For a long time, fans and analysts were unsure of Leonard's health and status as a Spur. It wasn't until July last year that the Spurs finally took a risk on sending Leonard to the Canadian franchise and getting All-Star DeMar DeRozan in return.
For the longest time, people believed Leonard would never stay with the Raptors, and he'd only be a “rental.” However, after winning the chip with Toronto, Kawhi could stay at least another year and run it back in a wide-open league following Kevin Durant's departure and Warriors' Klay Thompson's season-crippling ACL tear.