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Three reasons why Kawhi Leonard will join the LA Clippers this summer

By Garrett Chorpenning

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 24 – Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Masai Ujiri as the Toronto Raptors host their media day before going to Vancouver for their training camp. Media Day was held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. September 24, 2018. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 24 – Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Masai Ujiri as the Toronto Raptors host their media day before going to Vancouver for their training camp. Media Day was held at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. September 24, 2018. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

Masai Ujiri could be on his way out

Kawhi Leonard was the Toronto Raptors’ MVP all season long, and he brought his game up to another level once the postseason began. None of that would have been possible, though, if not for Toronto’s President of Basketball Operations, Masai Ujiri.

Ujiri was the mastermind that made the Leonard trade a reality, sending fan favorite DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs in the process. His plan was clearly an effective one too, as the Spurs were eliminated in the first round of this year’s playoffs by the Denver Nuggets, and well, we know what the Raptors accomplished.

But according to Adrian Wojnarowksi, Ujiri’s reign in Toronto could soon be coming to an end. Almost immediately after the Finals came to a close, Wojnarowski reported that the Washington Wizards are preparing to offer Ujiri a multi-year deal to become the team’s President of Basketball Operations, which could lead to a larger role in the franchise. The proposed deal could be worth as much as $10 million annually, which is an absurd amount of money to pay for someone in a front office position.

It’s very possible that Ujiri’s exit, if he does decide to join the Wizards, could lead to Leonard leaving Toronto as well.

Ujiri has reportedly been one of Leonard’s key motivators over the course of the season, publicly stating his belief that Leonard is “the best two-way player in basketball”, and telling him he’s the “best player in the league” not long after the trade occurred which brought him up North.

We aren’t saying that Ujiri’s departure, if it does happen, will be the thing that makes Leonard leave the Raptors. If he does choose to leave, it will be a combination of a lot of different factors — but it wouldn’t shock us if this would end up being one of them.

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