Following the blockbuster deals of Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, and a few more, Kawhi Leonard could very well be next. All this time, until today, there hasn’t been much direction on who he would be moved to. However, Jake Fischer of ‘The Stein Line’ reported that Leonard is open to signing an extension with both of his former teams, the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. This makes sense, as he won championships with both, but of the two, the Raptors are the only ones with mutual interest.
Crazy right? The organization he had one of history’s most legendary runs for wants him back.
One thing, though, the Raptors should keep in mind before continuing their push for Leonard is that he won’t be cheap; they'd better be ready to dig deep into their pockets for the franchise legend.
While Toronto trading for Kawhi might be expensive, it’s so worth it
Even if you disregard the fact that Kawhi Leonard walked into Toronto for just one season and brought them their first-ever championship, the Raptors being his next stop is logical from a fit standpoint.
Opponents of the Raptors, who just won 46 games and had their postseason ended by one of the best contenders in the East, would truly be scared of a trio of Leonard, Brandon Ingram, and Scottie Barnes.
That’s three insanely talented two-way impact players, all of whom are All-Stars, that could run right through many of the best teams in the league.
Mind you, they also have a genius of a head coach in Darko Rajakovic. He has a defensive mind that aligns perfectly with Leonard’s playstyle.
On the contrary, for Toronto to get a hold of Leonard, a player the Clippers clearly hold in high regard, they will have to give up a lot.
A package that could easily work, and one the Clippers would likely accept, consists of RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, Jamal Shead, a salary filler, and draft capital.
This puts the Clippers at an even better spot regarding their youth movement, adds to the amount of picks they have for the future, and still keeps the team in position to compete for the playoffs.
So, while he will cost a pretty penny, acquiring Leonard is one of the Raptors' best-case scenarios. They need him, if anything, as having a certified superstar against the Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve done wonders for their recent playoff run.
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