It is possible that Kawhi is using the Raptors as leverage. But let me paint the other side of this.
In 2018, Kawhi told the Spurs to trade him to Los Angeles. He made sure that every team in the NBA knew he wouldn't sign an extension. Boston backed out. But Toronto bet the house.
What wasn't stated at the time was that the Raptors were shooting two birds with one stone; getting off of DeMar DeRozan's contract AND giving their flourishing core a legit shot at a championship.
Kawhi made it clear to Toronto before and after they traded for him that he was not coming back. And he made good on that promise despite delivering a championship.
Any team that trades for Kawhi right now is making a bad bet. If he says he's not re-signing...he's not re-signing. That's just the nature of who he is.
So play this forward. Spurs aren't interested. Miami, Detroit and Toronto all approach with offers.
Miami and Detroit are paying for a rental. And at 34 years-old with his injury history, neither team is in a position to gamble big on this.
But Toronto is playing a different game. They'd get the extension guarantee. So they can add the pick or picks to get it over the finish line.
The Clippers tampered 500 times in 2018 to 2019 to steal Kawhi. And returning Kawhi back to Toronto is weirdly the karmic right thing to do.
Toronto has the defenders around Kawhi to reduce his load, a future All NBA star in Scottie, a medical staff he already knows and trusts and a country that already loves him (ignore the 12 idiot accounts that swear we don't).
Kawhi in Toronto is a 2-5 year bet on a small window of contention, and bonus, if he plays even half those games #2 is going up to the rafters.
JUST IN: The Toronto Raptors have exercised the $2.30 million team option on Jamal Shead for the 2026-27 season, league sources told @hoopshype. Shead played all 82 games, averaging 6.6 points and 5.4 assist per game for Toronto last season.
While Kawhi Leonard’s preference is to remain with the Clippers, league sources say the two-time Finals MVP would be open to signing an extension with Toronto, amid the Raptors’ own interest in reuniting with Leonard.
Full story here: https://t.co/3cXkUpMI6X
Nugent-Hopkins and Samanski should start as 3-4 centres and the idea is Samanski is building towards one day being a shot-suppresding third C. Dickenson is a waste. He's not good enough today and he'll be an anchor tomorrow
Response via text from an NHL player agent when I asked about Oilers coaching rumour…
“The opportunity to play with McDavid or Draisaitl is diminished with the potential to be coached by Babcock. It is a valid concern voiced to me by a few of my clients.”
Hockey’s trophy presentation is just better than most other pro leagues because the players who actually win get to hold it first instead of some old guy.
So many narratives broken by this Canes team. Taylor Hall is a career loser, you can't win with small/skilled players, etc. Wonder where Pierre McGuire is after he blamed "analytics" for Carolina's ECF losses the last two years.
Also, mc79hockey and DKingBH are cup champions. :)