The Toronto Raptors took a wild risk by trading for Kawhi Leonard with no assurance of the state of his health or his willingness to re-sign with the team after this upcoming season.
The latter could cost them dearly, as there is growing speculation that Leonard would be nothing but a one-year rental, determined to wind up in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report asked a rival general manager during the Las Vegas Summer League of the Raptors' potential chances to keep Leonard if he was traded.
“No chance,” the GM said. “He was in the All-Star Game there. Never left his room. He hates the cold.”
It's tough to say if this is just an adaptation process he has to go through, having played high school in his hometown of L.A., college at San Diego State, and professionally in San Antonio — all cities that provide a warm climate.
There are plenty of beauties to the city of Toronto, but those are ones he must get to know with time during this offseason.
Besides the weather, president Masai Ujiri and new head coach Nick Nurse will try their best to sell him on a culture, but if they're unsuccessful, there's little they can do to prevent the 27-year-old from opting out of the last year of his contract and signing with the team of his choice in the next offseason.
Leonard could miss out on as much as $70 million by signing with a different team next summer.
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