Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard is set to become a free agent after this season, and while a lot of people believe that he will move to one of the LA teams this summer, there's still optimism within the Raptors organization that the former Finals MVP will stay put.
Behind Leonard, the Raptors maintained their contender status. They finished with the second-best record in the league and are expected to make a deep run in the playoffs. For Raptors GM Bobby Webster, it is important for the team to have a successful postseason to help convince Leonard to stay, but those results don't mean absolutely everything. When asked by the Los Angeles Times' Dan Woike if it will have an impact on Kawhi's free-agency decision, Webster gave this response:
“Of course there is. There is. It's not all about what happens at the end of the season. It's about what's gone on to this point. From the day we acquired him, it's the ground work.”
The Raptors took a leap of faith last summer when they traded for Kawhi Leonard. They knew the possibility he could leave after this season, so they want to make the most out of his tenure with the team.
Leonard has maintained his focus on the Raptors' campaign. He and his camp have avoided making too much noise about his looming free-agency decision. They want to be low profile about it as much as possible.
At the moment, the Raptors have tied their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic at one game apiece. They will now head to Orlando for Games 3 and 4 and will look to regain home-court advantage.
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