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Kawhi Leonard is the most coveted player heading into the 2019 NBA free agency. His performances with the Toronto Raptors in the regular season as well as in the playoffs has been just astonishing.
Kawhi led the Raptors to their maiden NBA championship on the back of a historic playoff run that saw the Raptors beat the reigning champions Golden State Warriors 4-2 in 6 games. Leonard averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 24 playoff games, playing a career-high 39 minutes.
It was these performances that earned Leonard the NBA Finals MVP as well. With Leonard out to be a free agent this season, let's discuss 3 burning questions that everyone has been talking about as far as Kawhi's impending free agency is concerned.
#3 Will Kawhi be able to stay fit in the coming years?
Kawhi Leonard is arguably the best player in the NBA right now, coming off one of the most historic playoff runs we have seen in a long time. He was fit this year, fighting off niggling injuries in the final few games of the playoffs and played every game. But will he be able to stay fit in the coming years?
Kawhi is expecting a 4-year $140 million deal with whichever team he ends up signing a new contract with. But as we have seen in the past, during his time with the San Antonio Spurs, Kawhi has had a problem with injuries, particularly the ankle injury he suffered during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals in 2017.
He sat out the entire 2017-18 season except for 9 games and this issue flared up to such a point that Kawhi Leonard, who was expected to be the next Tim Duncan and lead the franchise for the years to follow, asked for a trade from the franchise.
He is very particular about his medical staff and another big injury, which can happen at any time, could change the course of the franchise he is at. Kawhi is at his peak now and his fitness levels need to be at his best. While at the Raptors, Kawhi showed no indications of any effects of his injuries, but another long term injury could possibly change his career. Just ask Kevin Durant.
#2 Can Kawhi get a better "win now" roster than the Toronto Raptors?
When Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors, the consensus was that the Raptors could finally win the Eastern Conference Finals and then lose to perennial champions in Golden State Warriors.
Nobody knew that Kawhi Leonard could change the narrative so much. He won them the NBA title, the first title in the franchise's history. But he did not do it alone, he had help from some really good teammates.
Kyle Lowry has been a solid player for a long time with the Raptors, Danny Green has been a proven winner with the Spurs and the trade bringing Marc Gasol was a shrewd move by Masai Ujiri. All of them combined with a breakout season by Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam led to a great roster surrounding Kawhi.
Some solid performances by Serge Ibaka off the bench and one of the best 6th man performances ever in the playoffs by Fred VanVleet got them the success they so deserved this season.
If Kawhi ends up leaving this roster, it might be difficult for him to surround himself with talent of the same high caliber as the players that he currently has at the Raptors. He could sign a 2-year contract with a player option and just run it back again to have a chance at a repeat championship run with the Raptors. With the Warriors down with injuries, the Raptors' path could not be clearer.
#1 Will Kawhi Leonard go to the Lakers or the Clippers?
Kawhi Leonard is the most touted free agent in the NBA this season and he has shown interest to be in a big market team. Which team could be more big market than the 2 teams from Los Angeles, the Lakers and the Clippers? He is from Los Angeles, which intensifies the rumors of him joining either of the Los Angeles teams.
The Los Angeles Clippers have 2 maximum contract slots, which has given them the unique chance to sign both Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, both of whom, according to recent reports, are looking to join forces to play together, which they can do at the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers also have a solid roster, with role-playing youngsters as well as level headed veterans, all of whom can contribute right away and making the Clippers instant contenders with Kawhi and Durant. One of the major downsides of joining the Clippers is their lack of history and the smaller stature compared to their brothers across the court in Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the biggest teams in NBA history and are one of the most famous teams around the world. It cannot get more big market than this for Kawhi Leonard, as he will always be under scrutiny at the Lakers, every day of his life.
He would also have 2 of the best players in the NBA as his teammates in Anthony Davis and the best player of these 2 decades, LeBron James. Playing alongside these 2 players will probably make the Lakers instant favorites for the title in the upcoming season.
The downside of joining the Los Angeles Lakers in the lack of roster depth. This lack of depth could force the Lakers into a tight spot given LeBron has gotten older and more injury prone, while Anthony Davis has not yet been able to play 82 games in a season. Kawhi's final decision is still a mystery but the probability of joining either Los Angeles teams is high.
