Toronto Raptors: It doesn’t make sense for Kawhi Leonard to leave
With the NBA currently in flux, does it really make much sense for Kawhi Leonard to leave the Toronto Raptors in free agency?
This summer, there’s a good chance that we see superstars switching teams at a historic rate. After the smoke clears on the charred remains of an idiot’s freshly burned Kyrie jersey, we will have new teams that will be dubbed “Super Teams”
Free agents will no doubt try and band together to form their own NBA Avengers squad, so they can shape their legacies.
Kawhi Leonard has been linked to the Los Angeles Clippers. Kyrie Irving is rumored to sign with the Brooklyn Nets or New York Knicks, and Kevin Durant has been linked to the Knicks (before the injury, of course).
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Kawhi Leonard should only look to LeBron James as an example.
LeBron James set the precedent when he left for the Miami Heat. Since then, everyone has been trying to pull off his 2010 style like it’s a pair of retro Jordans. LeBron cemented the Heat as a super team with his arrival. That decision paid off with LeBron winning two rings in four years.
When LeBron returned to the Cavs, he knew he had the pieces for him to create a new super team. At the same time, one was being groomed in Golden State. The Warriors and Cavs traded series until the Warriors signed Kevin Durant.
Durant was the head of the Voltron-like machine that is the Warriors, winning the last two Finals with relative ease and earning himself two Finals MVPs in the process.
Kawhi is currently facing this Warriors team (minus Durant). He has two more opportunities to beat them. To earn his second ring. After his disastrous season last year where he barely played due to injury, Kawhi has reemerged as one of the best players in the league. In his first year in Toronto, he has a chance to help them win their first championship.
Kawhi is currently in a great situation. The Raptors are a top team in The East. The Raptors have depth, an amazing coach and one of the best GMs in the NBA.
Does it make sense to leave an NBA Championship level team? If Kawhi waits until next season to hit free agency he can contend for another title in Toronto, while keeping an eye on his suitors this summer.
The window is not closing for Kawhi. He doesn’t need to move this summer. Teams will wait for him. If the Clippers, Knicks or Lakers think they can eventually sign Kawhi they will leave a max slot in their cap for that day he decides to leave the Raps.
LeBron left for Los Angeles hoping another star would join. That hope didn’t work out (yet), as the Lakers got leftovers to fill the roster. The Lakers then spent most of the year trying to unsuccessfully trade for another star.
When the league is in flux, the smartest move is to stay put. Kawhi leaving only puts him back a year. If Kevin Durant leaves Golden State, the only team Kawhi would need to worry about is the Bucks. The Bucks roster will change as they won’t have as many value players like Brook Lopez on the roster next season.
A Durant-less Warriors team will be over the cap once they re-sign Klay Thompson. Bringing the Warriors down to earth and once again re-stabilizing the Western Conference.
If Kawhi takes a year to see where Kyrie, Durant, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, and D’Angelo Russell all wind up, he could potentially then join them as a free agent next year.
If you are already on top. Why climb to the top again? Kawhi should wait and see what the other marquee players do before he leaves a championship-level team. Jon Snow was at least King of the North for two seasons. Kawhi Leonard should rule the North for one more season.