NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for Kawhi Leonard

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 26: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles as he is guarded by Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks at Scotiabank Arena on October 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 26: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles as he is guarded by Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks at Scotiabank Arena on October 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

5. Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks owe Dwight Powell an Edible Arrangement.

According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Powell plans to decline his $10.3 million player option for 2019-20 to become an unrestricted free agent. His “top priority is to work out a new deal with the Mavs,” Haynes reported, but he’s “expected to have multiple suitors” on the free-agent market.

If the Mavericks renounce the rights to all of their free agents other than Kristaps Porzingis, who has a $17.1 million cap hold, they can carve out more than $40 million in salary-cap space this summer. That’s more than enough to offer a max contract to someone like Leonard and bring back Powell on a longer-term deal with a smaller annual value.

In Dallas, Leonard could join presumptive Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic and Porzingis to form a high-upside Big Three. The 20-year-old Doncic just became only the second rookie in NBA history to average at least 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Porzingis earned an All-Star berth with the New York Knicks in 2017-18 before he tore his ACL.

The Mavericks’ surrounding cast is nothing to write home about, but Courtney Lee will come off their books after the 2019-20 season, while Tim Hardaway Jr. has a $19 million player option for 2020-21. If they waive and stretch Hardaway or salary-dump him after next season, they could feasibly create significant cap space in 2020 to bolster the talent around Leonard, Doncic and Porzingis before Doncic becomes eligible for an extension.

Add in a championship-winning coach in Rick Carlisle and a multibillionaire owner in Mark Cuban who hasn’t shied away from luxury-tax payments in the past, and the Mavericks have a sneaky appealing pitch for Leonard this summer. It’s far better than what the Knicks can offer, anyway.

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