Around the time of the NBA trade deadline, there was lots of speculation that the Miami Heat could be clearing the way to sign Kawhi Leonard away from the LA Clippers in the offseason.
First, they better hope he turns down his player option. There’s no guarantee he will, even if the Clippers lose this series.
It looked like Miami was setting themselves up for Kawhi because all the players they traded for at the trade deadline (Victor Oladipo, Trevor Ariza, and Nemanja Bjelica) aren’t signed through the 2021-2022 season. Hence, they’ll likely have the space to do it. There are three reasons, however, as to why Leonard should stay with the Clippers next year.
No. 1 reason why Kawhi Leonard shouldn’t sign with the Miami Heat: Their supporting cast wouldn’t be any better
Kawhi Leonard is playing on one of the deepest rosters in the whole league. Sure, playing with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Andre Iguodala isn’t bad. However, Leonard recruited Paul George to the Clippers so they could ball out together.
The Heat roster good players, but they also don’t have a bench that consists of guys like a solid Ivica Zubac, a three-time All Defensive Team selection in Patrick Beverley, a rising Terance Mann, a sharpshooter in Luke Kennard, a future Hall of Famer in Rajon Rondo, a two-time All-NBA player in DeMarcus Cousins, and a two-time NBA Block Champ in Serge Ibaka. (All bench players listed were the bench players of Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals).
The Heat do have a solid starting rotation, but their bench isn’t as deep as the Clippers’ bench. The roster over here would be much more complete around Leonard than it would be in Miami.
Besides, the Clippers have a good chance at bringing back most of their other 2021 free agents that are high-impact players (Serge Ibaka and Nicolas Batum come to mind quickly). The grass won’t be greener on the other side. Kawhi should pass on South Beach.