Kawhi Leonard is a Toronto Raptors player – for now. The Raptors are guaranteed of one year of Leonard’s services, as after the 2018-19 season, the swingman can decide to opt out of the final year of his contract and make himself a free agent. There’s a possibility, though, that Leonard may remain in the Atlantic division if he ever spurns Toronto next year.
David Aldridge of NBA.com ran through his mailbag recently and responded to a fan who was wondering what the odds are of Leonard joining the Brooklyn Nets next summer, knowing that there are a number of former San Antonio Spurs staffers on the team right now.
For Aldridge, notwithstanding the fact that Brooklyn has a number of products of San Antonio’s system, the Nets should earn themselves at least a look from Leonard when the time comes for the forward to choose his own team to play for.
Marks is his own man and his staff has its own tale to tell Leonard and his representatives. The Philadelphia 76ers, for example, had a good shot at Leonard in part because of Leonard’s relationship with Sixers coach Brett Brown — a relationship that was formed while Brown was an assistant in San Antonio. Unless Marks rubbed Leonard the wrong way somehow in the 210, and there’s absolutely no evidence I know of indicating that, I think Leonard will give the Nets a fair hearing next July.
The Nets have more than enough cap space to afford giving Kawhi Leonard a huge contract next year. According to Spotrac, Brooklyn only has seven players under its payroll beyond the 2018-19 season. There’s an entire year of basketball ahead for Leonard, but he’s definitely starting to feel the rumor mill running again.
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