Report: Kawhi Leonard May Not Decide in Next Few Days; No 2-Year Contract Talks
Despite the plane ride that captured the attention of the NBA world Wednesday, Kawhi Leonard is reportedly not close to making a decision on his next team.
Jabari Young of The Athletic reported the saga could last a few more days as Leonard and his team weigh their options. He also noted Kawhi has not negotiated any two-year contracts, which runs counter to Jalen Rose saying on ESPN's Get Up! that Leonard would sign a two-year deal with the Toronto Raptors.
"What I'm 99 percent hearing is that Kawhi Leonard will be returning to Toronto and signing a two-year contract," Rose said. "He just completed his eighth season. That's gonna put him at 10 years. That puts him in position to get the largest available maximum deal for a player of his tenure."
Leonard can sign a five-year, $190 million contract with the Raptors or a four-year, $141 million maximum with the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers. He's believed to have met with Toronto officials Wednesday, though that has not been confirmed.
Leonard wanted to play in Los Angeles when he requested a trade from the San Antonio Spurs last year, though they shipped him off to Toronto. The Raptors' one-year gamble paid off, as they built trust with Leonard by managing his workload, and he rewarded them with a historic playoff run that culminated in an NBA championship.
The Lakers are pitching Leonard on the ability to team up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis while playing for a hometown team. The Lakers have also thrown all their chips in the middle of the table for Leonard, watching as the free-agent pool dwindles while their skeleton roster awaits his decision.
The Clippers have a depth-laden team but lack a second star to pair with Kawhi. It's possible they work the phones and attempt to land one in the coming days to entice him. But aside from (potentially) Bradley Beal, few difference-makers are even thought to be available.
Leonard knows all of this and appears to be choosing the place he'll spend the remainder of his prime. The fact he's yet to decide is a strong indicator he sees all of these options as potentially appealing and does not want to make the wrong move.
