Kawhi Leonard Rumors: New Raptors Star Could Prolong Toronto Stay

Kawhi Leonard may stay on with the Toronto Raptors beyond the one year remaining on his deal, according to someone in his inner circle.

After wanting out of the San Antonio Spurs last month, Leonard was shipped out to the Raptors in a package that notably saw DeMar DeRozan go the other way in what is one of the biggest and riskiest trades in recent history.

DeRozan was a big factor in the Raptors finishing the Eastern Conference as the No. 1 seed last season and was not only a multiple-time All-Star but a fan favorite. And considering Leonard played in just nine games last season due to injury and the uncertainty that comes with an expiring one-year contract, many believe the Toronto franchise took a huge gamble in what could effectively be a one-year rental.

This is because when reports emerged the 28-year-old wanted a trade away from San Antonio, it was mainly for a move to his native Los Angeles as many felt he would join LeBron James at the Lakers.

However, it later emerged Leonard reportedly no longer wanted to move to the Lakers to play alongside James and instead, was open to a move to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Regardless, the general feeling is that Leonard will not re-sign with the Raptors once his contract expires at the end of the 2018/19 season.

However, the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Jason Zeigler wrote Sunday that someone in Leonard's inner circle told him the 2014 Finals MVP will not be leaving the Raptors after one season as he will end up falling in love with Toronto.

"Here’s what someone who knows Leonard as well as anybody told me privately: 'He’s going to fall in love with Toronto – it’s going to happen. He’s not going to leave, I’m telling you,'" Zeigler wrote. "Raptors might become rapture."

It's not completely out of the question. Leonard is known for being low-profile and as Zeigler adds, there are many plus points when it comes to Toronto, including a "fan base that is loyal and passionate but will leave you alone in public."

In addition, the Raptors have a young and creative coach in Nick Nurse, while they will consider themselves favorites to reach the NBA Finals in the upcoming season, especially as their long-time nemesis in James is no longer in the Eastern Conference.

Raptors president Masai Ujiri certainly believes Leonard has an interest in playing for them contrary to previous reports and is confident he could sell the idea of a Toronto stay when he becomes a free agent in 2019.

"Our team. Our culture. Our city. Our ownership," Ujiri said in a press conference last week. "We have everything here except a championship."

Ujiri also apologized to DeRozan but was ultimately happy with the trade as a chance to get a player of Leonard's ability does not come too often.

"When you get a chance to get a top five player, which it doesn't come very often, I think you have to jump on it," Ujiri added. "We've given a chance to this team. We've tried to build it as much as we can, but at this point, we got to this level where this opportunity came in front of us and we had to jump on it."