LA Clippers Rumor: Kawhi Leonard pursuit will be a two-person race

Despite drawing interest from multiple teams, rumor has it the race for Kawhi Leonard will be won by either the LA Clippers or Toronto Raptors.

At this point in the NBA offseason, it’s hard not to be interested in Kawhi Leonard. After all, the 27-year-old just won his second championship, and he did so with a brand new team in the Toronto Raptors. There’s a fair chance he re-signs up North, but if he doesn’t, rumor has it the LA Clippers will be his only other preferred suitor.

Along with the Clippers and Raptors, the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly interested in adding Leonard when time comes this summer. Among the latter three, the Lakers are likely the most likely option, but even then, the situation appears bleak for them.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Leonard is “focused” on coming to Los Angeles, but that refers to the Clippers, and not the Lakers.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise for Clippers fans, as it’s basically the same news that’s been circulating since the time Leonard was traded last summer. From the sounds of it, the Clippers have always been Leonard’s focus, as the idea of playing “second fiddle” to LeBron James (and potentially third to Anthony Davis) is more of a turn-off than anything else.

That being said, the expectation that this will now be a two-person race may scare some. After all, Leonard just won a title with his current team, and with a decent chance to experience the same the success next season, why not run it back? Even if it’s on a short-term deal, if Leonard wants to collect as many trophies as possible, his best option next season could be a return to Toronto.

The thing is, he might not want to be there anymore. No one really knows if he does or doesn’t at this point. All we really know is that of his preferred trade destinations last summer, the Raptors were not one of them, and the Clippers were. And now that Leonard has no debts to pay in Toronto, he should have the freedom that best benefits him.

Whatever his decision is, don’t expect it to come early on in free agency — Leonard himself reportedly said that he’ll decide his future “when it’s time”, and the expectation is that he won’t make that choice on June 30.

The Toronto Raptors have already made their pitch to Kawhi Leonard to stay — now, it’s up to the LA Clippers to deliver an offer he can’t possibly refuse.