Did Kawhi Leonard Hint At Free Agency Destination? Addresses Plans

The Toronto Raptors are leading 3-1 in the NBA Finals against reigning back-to-back champions Golden State Warriors and going into Game 5 on Monday night, are much the favorites to win their first ever championship ring. The one likelihood if they triumph in the finals is Kawhi Leonard being named the NBA Finals MVP – for the second time in his career.

Leonard will enter free agency in the summer and after his post-season performance, he is likely to usurp Kevin Durant as the most sought after player this summer. The Raptors are keen to hold on to the small forward, but multiple reports indicate that the player is keen to return to Los Angeles this summer with the Clippers said to be leading the race for his signature.

The Lakers are also contenders for Leonard while the New York Knicks are also planning a meeting with the forward if they fail to land Durant, who is top of their wish list. Leonard will have a long list of suitors but his recent comment about buying property in Canada will give the Raptors hope that they could have a chance of keeping Leonard long-term if they win their first ever NBA championship.

There was a recent report that suggested Leonard had bought a property in Toronto but the small forward denied the reports, but it was the manner of his answer that raised eyebrows, he said after Sunday’s practice, as quoted on New York Post: “No, I didn’t. It didn’t happen yet, no.”

The “yet” in the answer is what raised multiple questions about the possibility of Leonard re-signing with Raptors in the summer, which will put a spanner in the plans of many teams looking to go big in free agency.

Leonard, however, in a recent interview with ESPN revealed that no decision has been made with regard to his future. He also suggested that recruitment tactics will not force him to re-sign as he has not even thought about his future, be it with the Raptors or another franchise.

“Not now,” Leonard told ESPN when asked about free agency. “I mean, obviously — you know what you want. But I’m not thinking, like — just because of this and this, I’m gonna re-sign. I’m not even thinking about signing or what team I’m gonna go to, free agency, none of that. I’m just focused on what’s in front of me right now. And then, you know, once it’s over, then I’ll revisit everything.”