Will an NBA Finals berth be enough to convince Kawhi Leonard to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors in free agency this summer?
Next to Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard figures to be the most hotly pursued player on this summer’s free-agent market.
Fresh off an all-time great postseason run, Leonard has re-established himself as being among the cream of the crop in the NBA. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2013-14 Finals MVP is lethal on both ends of the court, which makes him an ideal fit on any team.
After years of playoff heartbreak, the Toronto Raptors swung for the fences last summer by trading DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs for Leonard and Danny Green, and it paid off with their first-ever NBA Finals appearance. Even if Leonard leaves in July, he validated general manager Masai Ujiri’s gamble.
Will that playoff run be enough to convince Leonard to stick around?
The Raptors can offer him a five-year, $189.7 million contract, while other suitors are limited to a four-year, $140.6 million deal. However, Leonard already proved money isn’t necessarily his priority when he forced his way out of San Antonio before the Spurs could offer him a five-year, $221.3 million supermax extension.
Where might Leonard end up this summer? The following five destinations stand out as his most likely landing spots.