NBA Rumors: Kawhi Breaks Clippers Hearts, Questions Lakers' Intentions

The 2019 NBA free agency began in a frenzy with a host of players making their decision clear within hours of its opening on June 30. The big newsmakers were Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who will both be joining the Brooklyn Nets, while Jimmy Butler will be heading to Miami Heat, Klay Thompson will remain in Golden State and Kemba Walker will join Boston Celtics.

All eyes and ears are now focused on 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who is an unrestricted free agent but is yet to make his decision of whether to re-sign with Toronto Raptors or return home to Southern California with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers desperate to sign him.

The New York Knicks, who missed out on Durant and Irving are also said to be interested but it looks like it is between Toronto and Los Angeles at the moment for Leonard. The Clippers were touted as pre-free agency favorites but according to Chris Broussard, the small forward has now informed the Clippers that he no longer considers them a potential candidate in the race for his signature.

“I have been told that Kawhi is leaning HEAVILY towards the Lakers. I’ve talked to some people close to the situation who said Kawhi has talked to the LAC on a call & told them that they are out,” Broussard said.

That will come as a big blow to the Clippers, who had made the 2019 NBA champion their main target this offseason. The Fox Sports NBA insider believes the Lakers are now the favorites to land Leonard and the player has spoken to Magic Johnson, the former Lakers president of basketball operations, and “laid out” what he expects from the franchise.

“I’m being told the Lakers are Kawhi Leonard’s first choice. He and his camp spoke with Magic yesterday and laid out what they want from the Lakers,” Broussard had reported earlier on Monday, via Fox Sports Radio. “Nothing crazy, just some additions to the staff and asking ‘Is Kawhi going to be treated like LeBron [James] in the organization?’, and all of that. As long as Jeanie [Buss] doesn’t do anything to screw it up in the meeting I’m told that’s his first choice.”

If Leonard does decide to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles with the Lakers, they are certain to be the outright favorites to win the Larry O‘Brien trophy in 2020. But many still question why he would join the Lakers rather than to stay at least another year with the Raptors, be the leader of the team and make another run at the title.