NBA Rumors: Raptors ‘Underdog Favorites’ To Land Kawhi Leonard This Summer

Kawhi Leonard has a big decision to make this summer, although most believe he is likely to choose the place where he has started something big. This is with reference to the Toronto Raptors, a team that shocked the world when they defeated the Golden State Warriors to win the 2018-19 NBA title. Looking ahead, it seems a bit awkward to see the 27-year-old forward leave a franchise he just led to the Larry O’Brien trophy.

Regardless, the fact is that Leonard has options. During the Toronto Raptors NBA championship parade, it comes to no surprise that he was hounded by questions on his plans this summer. Some were hoping to gather some clues on the 15th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft but instead got canned with Leonard’s response.

“I’m going to take the right time,” he said to the Associated Press in a wire story from the Manila Bulletin. “You don’t need too many days to figure it out. We’ll see what happens. Once that time comes, then we’ll all lay the pros and cons out.”

The reality of it is that the Raptors will be busy as well as they try to see who stays and who goes next NBA season. Marc Gasol has a player option this summer, while Danny Green will become a free agent. Looking ahead, Serge Ibaka, Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet are entering the final years of their contract – names which played a pivotal role in the Raptors run to the NBA Finals.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Clippers remain the favorites to land Leonard this summer. However, the Raptors have narrowed the gap, meaning nothing is certain for Doc Rivers and company. Looking at the number of players who have player options and are on their final year, what would stop Leonard from picking up his player option (together with Gasol) and aim for back-to-back NBA titles? That is a possibility with Leonard shelving his long-term plans for one more year, Bleacher Report reported.

Of course, interest in Leonard is not limited to the Raptors and the Clippers. There are several other teams expected to try and lure them to their end – meaning Kawhi Leonard is just one of many popular NBA names expected to have a wild summer. Despite what pundits claim, the Raptors are looming as the underdog favorites since the NBA All-Star is coming off a successful title run – the first for Toronto which makes it all the more sweeter.