The LA Clippers have the best chance to compete
Outside of the Toronto Raptors and LA Clippers, only two other teams have popped up as potential landing spots for Kawhi Leonard this summer: The Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks. However, I’d consider each of them to be less of a threat to the Clippers’ plans than the Raptors are.
The Lakers have LeBron James, arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport, but it seems his Lakers are set on adding other players, namely Anthony Davis, at the moment. If they could add Davis by way of trade and then sign Leonard, they would instantly become title favorites. That just doesn’t feel so likely.
Leonard doesn’t seem like the type of guy to team up with a LeBron James type, and given his preference to be more of an “under the radar” kind of guy, the spotlight he would receive playing for the Lakers seems like more of a turn-off than an incentive.
He’d still receive some of that attention with the Clippers, given both teams are located in Los Angeles. But despite how much better the Clippers have been than the Lakers in recent years, the Lakers still get the media attention and draw the big-name celebrities to all of their games. Leonard coming to the Clippers might skew that a bit, but he could probably keep more to himself if he avoids the Lakers.
The Knicks, on the other hand, might already be getting desperate as all signs point to Kyrie Irving, one of their supposed free agent targets, signing with the Brooklyn Nets this summer. They’ve got ample money to spend, but given the status of the organization and their postseason drought, it would be odd if Leonard preferred them to a team closer to contending for a title.
That just leaves the LA Clippers, a team that’s essentially already built for Leonard. The squad’s biggest need remains at small forward, and his attitude and style of play seem like they would mesh perfectly with the culture the Clippers have been creating recently. And given LA’s overachieving nature, there’s no telling how far Leonard could carry the Clippers if he joins this summer.
No one can say for sure what Leonard is going to do this summer, but if he does end up leaving the Toronto Raptors, it seems safe to say that his most likely destination will be the LA Clippers.