Kawhi Leonard: Lakers target wants move to west coast, NBA representatives convinced
That's according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who believes there is nothing the Toronto Raptors can do to keep Leonard. The Raptors shocked everyone last summer by trading away DeMar DeRozan for Leonard, beating the Lakers to the deal. Reports at the time suggested the trade will likely only be a one-year rental with Leonard favouring a move back home to Los Angeles. But as the season progressed it seemed as though Toronto were increasingly confident of pulling off what Oklahoma City Thunder did with Paul George. Related articles Kawhi Leonard: Lakers sent devastating NBA free agency message Kyrie Irving ready to leave Boston Celtics for one main reason Toronto have a strong chance of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in their history. And potentially winning an NBA title would be their best chance of convincing Leonard to re-sign in the summer. However, Windhorst reports that the overall consensus around the league is that even an NBA title would not be enough to change Leonard's mind. "A lot of people in the NBA think that Kawhi is out of there," he said on ESPN's The Jump.Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants a move to the west coast (Image: GETTY) Related articles NBA trade news: Lakers talks, Kemba Walker shock, Anthony Davis plan WATCH Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson hint they want to leave Warriors The Raptors are hoping that Kawhi Leonard will re-sign with them (Image: GETTY) "But it's not because of anything the Raptors did. "It's just that Kawhi kind of wants to be on the west coast. "The difficulty is that Kawhi doesn't really articulate his feelings to people... "It's difficult for them [Toronto] to read, who have spent every day obsessing about it for months." Related articles Kevin Durant makes free agency statement amid Lakers, Knicks rumours Lakers fans go CRAZY after Kobe Bryant tweets about Kawhi Leonard Kawhi Leonard is linked with the Lakers and Clippers (Image: GETTY) That will come as good news to both the Lakers and Clippers, who are likely set to go head-to-head for Leonard's signature. The Clippers have two max salary slots as opposed to the one which the Lakers have. And there is a sense around the league that the mess surrounding the Lakers' front office issues following Luke Walton and Magic Johnson's departure is putting off impending free agents.
That’s according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who believes there is nothing the Toronto Raptors can do to keep Leonard. The Raptors shocked everyone last summer by trading away DeMar DeRozan for Leonard, beating the Lakers to the deal. Reports at the time suggested the trade will likely only be a one-year rental with Leonard favouring a move back home to Los Angeles. But as the season progressed it seemed as though Toronto were increasingly confident of pulling off what Oklahoma City Thunder did with Paul George. Related articles Kawhi Leonard: Lakers sent devastating NBA free agency message Kyrie Irving ready to leave Boston Celtics for one main reason Toronto have a strong chance of reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in their history. And potentially winning an NBA title would be their best chance of convincing Leonard to re-sign in the summer. However, Windhorst reports that the overall consensus around the league is that even an NBA title would not be enough to change Leonard’s mind. “A lot of people in the NBA think that Kawhi is out of there,” he said on ESPN’s The Jump.Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants a move to the west coast (Image: GETTY) Related articles NBA trade news: Lakers talks, Kemba Walker shock, Anthony Davis plan WATCH Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson hint they want to leave Warriors The Raptors are hoping that Kawhi Leonard will re-sign with them (Image: GETTY) “But it’s not because of anything the Raptors did. “It’s just that Kawhi kind of wants to be on the west coast. “The difficulty is that Kawhi doesn’t really articulate his feelings to people… “It’s difficult for them [Toronto] to read, who have spent every day obsessing about it for months.” Related articles Kevin Durant makes free agency statement amid Lakers, Knicks rumours Lakers fans go CRAZY after Kobe Bryant tweets about Kawhi Leonard Kawhi Leonard is linked with the Lakers and Clippers (Image: GETTY) That will come as good news to both the Lakers and Clippers, who are likely set to go head-to-head for Leonard’s signature. The Clippers have two max salary slots as opposed to the one which the Lakers have. And there is a sense around the league that the mess surrounding the Lakers’ front office issues following Luke Walton and Magic Johnson’s departure is putting off impending free agents.
