NBA: One way each team can improve next season

Toronto Raptors – Kawhi Leonard

The reigning champions have only one person to worry about for next season, their NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. Leonard is a free agent as of June 30th and had implied he only planned to stay in Toronto for as little as possible at the beginning of the season after reluctantly being traded there by the Spurs.

Since Kawhi’s parting from the Spurs, he’s had one place on his mind he wanted to go: Los Angeles. Kawhi had his eyes set on the Lakers or Clippers when he requested a trade from San Antonio, but I don’t think even he expected what he was able to accomplish in just one year with the Raptors. Leonard acquired his second NBA championship and Finals MVP award having quite possibly the best season of his career.

What he achieved in Toronto may just be enough to convince him to sign long-term, but as of right now its a battle between the Raptors and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers have a lot to offer Kawhi: immense cap room, one of the best-supporting casts, and a huge market in the one city he has expressed his yearn to play for in Los Angeles.

Right now it’s all just speculation as to whether he’ll book it to LA or remain in the north. But when it comes to Toronto if they want any shot of repeating their championship run, it is essential to keep Kawhi Leonard.