Superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard may have been traded to the Toronto Raptors this offseason, but ESPN is predicting that the 27-year-old will eventually sign with the Los Angeles Lakers next summer.
Leonard received a staggering 57.6 percent of votes, indicating he would call Staples Center home once he enters free agency next summer.
The ESPN forecast looked like this:
Where will Kawhi Leonard start the 2019-20 season?
| TEAM | % OF VOTES |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 57.6 |
| Toronto Raptors | 27.3 |
| LA Clippers | 15.1 |
The 2014 Finals MVP finally forced his way out of the San Antonio Spurs at the end of last campaign, as the Spurs and Raptors were involved in a trade that sent Leonard to Toronto for shooting guard DeMar DeRozan.
The Lakers were rumored to be front-runners to obtain Leonard’s services as they were his preferred destination, but the Spurs' asking price was too high and the Lakers would have been forced to break up their young and promising core to bring him in.
Instead, the Lakers opted to wait it out, as potentially acquiring Leonard next offseason when he’s a free agent will cost them nothing except cap space. The defensive maestro would then be added to a roster filled with rapidly developed young talent and a legendary presence in LeBron James.
The Lakers have poised themselves perfectly to capture Leonard next summer as they have signed veterans Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley, JaVale McGee, and Lance Stephenson to one-year contracts. By doing so, they’ve allowed themselves the flexibility to open up the necessary cap space Leonard would require in order to sign with the organization.
They will also have the ability to relieve themselves off Luol Deng’s unfavourable contract which would again open up even more cap room.
Leonard only featured in nine games last season as he was battling injury, however the last time he played consistent and competitive basketball, he was good for 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He also averaged just under a block and 1.8 steals per contest as he remains one of the premier defenders in the league when healthy.
Leonard may don a Raptors uniform for this upcoming season, but you’d be a brave person to bet against him wearing a purple and gold jersey next summer.
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