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NBA Free Agency 2019: 5 potential destinations for Kawhi Leonard

By Bryan Toporek

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)
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, CANADA – FEBRUARY 3: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers posts up on Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors on February 3, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – FEBRUARY 3: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the LA Clippers posts up on Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors on February 3, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Los Angeles Clippers

If Leonard plans to leave the Raptors after the Finals, it appears as though he’ll be joining the Los Angeles Clippers.

In January, ESPN.com’s Tim Bontemps reported “the popular opinion among league executives six months before Leonard makes his decision is that he’ll choose between the Raptors and the Clippers.” During an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up! earlier this month, Adrian Wojnarowski affirmed Leonard’s choice will likely come down to those two teams.

Unlike the Lakers, who will have to rely almost solely upon their location and LeBron James in their free-agent pitch to Leonard, the Clippers can entice him with far more.

Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, two of the three finalists for Sixth Man of the Year, are signed for a combined $14 million in 2019-20. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet each received second-team All-Rookie nods this season, and the Clippers pushed the two-time defending Golden State Warriors to six games in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers’ interest in signing Leonard this summer is one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets, perhaps second only to the New York Knicks’ anticipated pursuit of Kevin Durant. Early this season, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported “Raptors officials have noticed a Clippers employee at roughly 75 percent of the team’s games thus far this season,” including occasional appearances from team president Lawrence Frank.

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After sending Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline, the Clippers will enter this offseason with roughly $54 million in salary-cap space, which is more than enough to sign Leonard to a max deal and round out their roster. They’re one Danilo Gallinari salary-dump away from creating two max slots, which could allow Leonard to pick the superstar partner of his choice.

With a championship-winning coach in Doc Rivers, an excellent front office led by Frank, general manager Michael Winger and special adviser Jerry West and a preposterously rich, passionate owner in Steve Ballmer, the Clippers have established themselves as the polar opposite of the crosstown Lakers. If Leonard is set on returning to L.A. this summer, the Clips should be the clear favorites to secure his services.

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