Report: Kawhi Leonard Declines Contract Option; ‘Seriously Considering’ Raptors


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In a widely expected move, Kawhi Leonard will decline his 2019-20 player option with the Toronto Raptors to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

However, Haynes noted that Leonard is “believed to be seriously considering re-signing with the Raptors.”

Leonard would have earned roughly $21.3 million in 2019-20 had he exercised the option. But even if he intends to return to the Raptors, opting out was a no-brainer for the three-time All-Star.

The Raptors can offer him a five-year, $189.7 million max extension, while other teams can’t give him more than a four-year, $140.6 million contract.

Leonard also may prefer to take the LeBron James and Kevin Durant approach, where he signs a short-term deal that would allow him to opt out again in a year or two. Doing so would allow him to ink an even heftier max contract in 2021 or beyond.

Either way, the 27-year-old had no reason to see out the remainder of his old contract.

Now the question becomes whether he stays in Toronto or bolts after one season north of the border.
Leonard and the Raptors didn’t get off to a great start after they acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs. Last July, Sporting News’ Sean Deveney reported Leonard had “no interest” in playing for his new team.

Over time, the relationship between the two sides grew stronger. In March, TSN’s Josh Lewenberg reported Toronto was “increasingly confident” about its chances to retain Leonard this summer:
“However, as they’ve gotten to know Leonard better, they have come to understand the other priorities that drive him on daily basis. That’s what their pitch will centre on: trust, familiarity, a commitment to maintaining his health and the shared goal of chasing a championship, as well as the extra year and contract worth nearly $50 million more than anyone else can offer.”

Then came the first NBA championship in Raptors history, an achievement that wouldn’t have been possible without Leonard. He averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists throughout the playoffs, building a case for himself as the NBA’s best player.

On the court, the Raptors built their offense around Leonard. According to Basketball Reference, his 30.3 percent usage rate was the highest on the team, and he attempted the most shots (1,129) of any Raptor despite missing 22 regular-season games.

Leonard sat out so frequently because Toronto wanted to proactively manage his workload following an injury-plagued 2017-18 season. With an eye toward winning his trust and preserving him for the playoffs, the coaching staff was careful not to push him too hard during the regular season.

Read Full News : https://usacnnnews.com/2019/06/24/report-kawhi-leonard-declines-contract-option-seriously-considering-raptors/

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