NBA Rumors: Kawhi Leonard Expected To Pick Los Angeles Over Toronto As Clippers Target Raptors Star

With free agency looming, Kawhi Leonard has been the Eastern Conference’s best player in the 2019 NBA playoffs. His performance has made the Toronto Raptors one of the favorites to reach the NBA Finals, and some believe Leonard could give the team a real chance to even win the championship.

For months there have been rumors that Leonard is aiming to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason. It stands to reason that a deep postseason run, and possibly a championship, could change his plans and keep him in Toronto.

However, some insiders are giving the Raptors little chance to re-sign the superstar. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on “Get Up” Thursday morning that he believes Leonard is gone from Toronto. no matter what, considering he wanted to leave the San Antonio Spurs for Los Angeles when he was already part of arguably the league's best organization.

“I think that Kawhi Leonard has his mind made up. Whether that’s staying in Toronto or departing for Los Angeles remains to be seen. I would bet on him going to L.A.,” Smith said. “The reality of the situation from what I was told is that Kawhi Leonard was absolutely bored in San Antonio.”

When it was reported last summer that Leonard wanted to be traded to Los Angeles, the Lakers tried to pry the former NBA Finals MVP from the Spurs. The Lakers never came close to acquiring Leonard, and Smith indicated that San Antonio was never going to send Los Angeles their best player, despite how intriguing any of their offers might have been.

“The Los Angeles Lakers were not somebody that the San Antonio Spurs as an organization was willing to do business with,” Smith said.

It was believed a year ago that the Lakers would have a good chance to sign Leonard as a free agent this upcoming offseason. Now that the summer is only a few months away, the Lakers are not viewed as a likely destination for Leonard.

The Clippers reportedly believe they have a very good chance to sign Leonard. Leonard is their top free-agent target, according to Smith, even with Kevin Durant set to hit the open market.

L.A. is expected to pursue both Leonard and Durant.