The Los Angeles Clippers had been viewed for months as the heavy favorites to acquire Kawhi Leonard. The Toronto Raptors seem to now have just as much of a chance to sign the 2019 NBA Finals MVP after he led the franchise to its first-ever championship. The Los Angeles Lakers are an option for Leonard, as well, given his affinity for Southern California.

Up until very recently, there weren’t any reports linking Leonard and the New York Knicks. Most of the rumors concerning the Knicks involved Kevin Durant, who many have assumed is headed to the Big Apple this summer.

With Durant recovering from a ruptured Achilles that will probably force him to miss all of next season, there is increased speculation that the Knicks could be real players for Leonard. New York remains far from the likely landing spot for Leonard, but the idea that the Knicks are a possible destination for the superstar has picked up a lot of steam.

It started shortly before Durant returned for Game 5 of the finals when Newsday’s Steve Popper reported that the Knicks planned to “push hard” for Leonard in free agency. The New York Post’s Marc Berman reported that Knicks president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry expected to, at the very least, get a meeting with Leonard this summer.

A few days later, FOX Sports’ Cris Carter reported that the Knicks have a real shot to sign Leonard. Carter has since reported that the Raptors, Clippers, Lakers, Knicks and Brooklyn Nets will all be in play for Leonard this offseason.

On Monday, former NBA player and current agent B.J. Armstrong said via Stadium that he’s hearing the Knicks are “in the fold” for Leonard.

Maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Knicks are legitimate contenders in the Kawhi Leonard Sweepstakes. When Leonard was still with the San Antonio Spurs last year, ESPN reported that his camp might want him to play in New York.

There has been speculation that Leonard and Durant might team up with the Clippers. The Knicks have enough cap space to sign both players. Leonard could be the team’s lone star before Durant is ready to play again in 2020.

New York has had designs of pairing Durant and Kyrie Irving together. All indications are that Irving is headed to the Nets, and the guard is reportedly trying to convince Durant to join him.

If the Knicks aren’t able to sign Durant, landing Leonard would salvage a much-anticipated offseason that is quickly looking like it could be a disaster for New York.

Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors runs down the floor in the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Jan. 13, 2019. Rob Carr/Getty Images
RELATED STORIES
Basketball