Kawhi Leonard 'Seriously Considering' Joining Raptors Again, Wojnarowski Says

All is not lost for the Toronto Raptors in the race for Kawhi Leonard with NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski stating that they still have a chance to retain 2019 NBA Playoffs’ best player. Until recently it was expected that Leonard will leave his current employers when he enters free agency in the summer with Los Angeles Clippers being touted as the favorites to sign him.

Leonard joined the Raptors via a trade from the San Antonio Spurs last summer and he was not happy about it as he was keen to return home to Los Angeles and was hoping the Los Angeles Lakers made an offer for his services.

The small forward has since gone on to star for the Toronto franchise helping them finish as the second seeds in the Eastern Conference and they are now tied 2-2 in the conference semifinals against Philadelphia 76ers. Leonard is averaging 32.3 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range in the playoffs and will not be short of suitors should he make himself available in free agency later in July.

It was almost certain that Leonard will leave Raptors at the end of the season with Clippers said to be leading the race for the forward, while the Brooklyn Nets are also potential options. However, Wojnarowski has revealed that Leonard is now “seriously” considering re-signing with the Toronto franchise.

“Kawhi Leonard just felt all along, it was going to take the full year to sell him on Toronto. It wasn't going to be done in training camp or by Christmas or by the trade deadline. But I do think they've made progress with him,” Wojnarowski said on “The Woj Pod”, as transcribed by Sporting News.

“I think they've made pretty good progress with him from the sense I have. They put themselves in it. And when Kawhi showed up there, I'm not sure he imagined any future in Toronto. I do think it's a serious consideration now,” he added.

The Raptors are in a close battle with the 76ers to make the Eastern Conference finals, where they could probably meet the Milwaukee Bucks, who are leading Boston Celtics 3-1 in the other semifinals. And Wojnarowski believes “winning” is the only thing Raptors sell to Leonard to make him stay as the location and weather are non-starters.

"Toronto is selling winning on him. They can't sell geography to him, I don't think. I don't think they can sell weather on him. There's nothing they can do about that. When you have that kind of organization, you sell winning,” the NBA insider explained.