Right now, the wait is on as to which team would be signing perhaps the lone remaining top name in NBA free agency – Kawhi Leonard. The 28-year-old is taking his sweet time before formally announcing where he will play next season, although some feel it would make no sense for him to help the Toronto Raptors win a title and then jump ship. In addition, he stands to gain the most money if he stays on with the Raptors.

Leonard is expected to listen to the offers to be made by the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and the Raptors. The Clippers were widely believed to be at the top of the list before LeBron James touched base with the two-time NBA champion and the Anthony Davis trade was reported. If one is to factor in these recent developments, the Lakers may have just pushed themselves to the top of the list, and some are even willing to bet on it. In fact, one bettor put $10,000 on the Lakers winning the 2020 NBA season, possibly anticipating a Leonard signing.

The curious thing about this is that a similar bet of the same amount was placed before the Lakers were able to snag Davis, Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times suggested. The said bet was placed at the Westgate Las Vegas Superbooks at 7/4 odds. Could there be a connection?

Right now, the safest way to treat it is that the said bettor may be just confident of the Lakers chances. As to Leonard signing with the Lakers, presuming it may be a bit too much. There are a lot of factors in play unless Leonard has reason to move to Hollywood and depart Toronto.

In a previous article, it was stressed how the 15th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft is considering the Lakers as a next stop. Completing a seemingly hard-to-imagine move is another story although not impossible. Having won two NBA titles at the age of 28, there is no denying that Leonard needs to find some unique reason to join the Lakers next season – probably similar ones on why James opted to sign up long term in Hollywood.

As things stand now, it would be flabbergasting to see Leonard leave a team he recently led to an NBA title. He hardly showed any discontent with the Raptors so a sudden exit would shock Raptors fans. Toronto plans to exhaust all efforts to keep Leonard although the last say will still be on the three-time NBA All-Star.

Kawhi Leonard Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors runs down the floor in the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on January 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. Rob Carr/Getty Images
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