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Kawhi Leonard was recently asked about his future with the Toronto Raptors, and in a move that should shock no one, he chose to play it cagey.
Kawhi said he will think about future, have meetings at appropriate time. Right now he’s just all about this season. Same, consistent message we’ve heard from him.
— Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) February 3, 2019
Kawhi Leonard is someone who, if nothing else, has made himself a formidable presence on the court. Thanks to his ability to cover both ends of the floor, he has elevated the Toronto Raptors into a previously unattainable elite status in the league.
Despite this, however, Forbes Magazine believes that the Raptors will need to offer Leonard a very handsome extension on his contract, especially since he'd just purchased a home in Southern California.
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“Leonard is currently earning around $23 million on the one-year deal he signed with Toronto, but as a free agent, he could easily earn more, and he could enhance his value by taking Toronto on a deep playoff run. It's believed Toronto could offer Leonard a five-year extension worth as much as $190 million on July 1. Leonard's health issues (he missed all but nine games last season with a quadriceps injury) have been managed smartly by the Raptors, who rest Leonard in the second half of back-to-back games, and sometimes more.”
Leonard, however, may not even be enchanted enough to stay in Toronto under those circumstances. Even though the Raptors are the fourth-largest market for the NBA, it also is known for its intensely brutal cold … and its history of not bringing home any championships in the league.
Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri has said that he's determined to do “whatever it takes” to put a W in the Toronto Raptors column, and that includes doing what it takes to keep Leonard on the team.
