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Los Angeles Clippers: Toronto is not a threat to sign Kawhi Leonard

By Jason Reed

TORONTO, ON - MAY 25: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors hoists the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Six of the NBA Eastern Conference Final at Scotiabank Arena on May 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Bucks 100-94 to win the Eastern Conference Championship 4 games to 2. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 25: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors hoists the Eastern Conference Championship trophy after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Six of the NBA Eastern Conference Final at Scotiabank Arena on May 25, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Raptors defeated the Bucks 100-94 to win the Eastern Conference Championship 4 games to 2. NOTE TO USER: user expressly acknowledges and agrees by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Licence Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Some fans are concerned that the Toronto Raptors being in the NBA Finals will keep Kawhi Leonard from signing with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The most exciting thing for the Los Angeles Clippers right now is the impending free agency and the possibility of bringing in one or two superstars. To be specific, Kawhi Leonard is the star that has been most heavily rumored to sign with the Clippers.

Leonard has Los Angeles roots and even recently bought a home in Southern California. The Los Angeles Lakers do not seem like to be as good of a fit as the Clippers, making the Clippers the frontrunners to bring in one of the NBA’s best players.

And even though the Los Angeles Clippers were bounced in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, these playoffs have been fun to watch for Clipper fans because of Leonard’s demolition course through the Eastern Conference and into the NBA Finals.

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Leonard has been the biggest winner of the playoffs and would be the playoffs MVP, even in defeat, if that award existed. That naturally has gotten every Clipper fan excited for what could be next year.

While it has been fun, though, the Raptors making it all the way to the NBA Finals can be concerning. Toronto was not expected to go this far when the trade first happened and every great moment with the Raptors could sway Leonard to stay in Toronto this offseason.

That is a legitimate worry to have but we are here to assure you: the Toronto Raptors will not be a threat at all in signing Kawhi Leonard this summer.

The Raptors simply have no long-term security for Leonard to sign a max deal if he truly cares about contending. Kyle Lowry is not getting any younger and his contract expires after this year, Marc Gasol could opt out and even he is over the hill. This season is really one of maybe two seasons where the Raptors can actually contend.

There are promising young pieces, such as Pascal Siakam, that could convince Leonard otherwise. However, Toronto has never really been a free agent destination and does not have the cap to do much. Leonard would be signing a long-term deal to play with this group of guys for one more year and then who knows what will happen.

The Clippers have youth in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Landry Shamet and Jerome Robinson and have assets to make things happen, such as cap space and the lucrative 2021 unprotected Miami Heat first-round pick.

The Clippers are definitely the better long-term solution for Leonard. This does not mean that it is a surefire thing that the Los Angeles Clippers will land Leonard, as there are other suiters, but they certainly are a better alternative than the Raptors.

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Kawhi Leonard is a smart guy and he knows what teams offer him the best chance to be successful in the long term. The Toronto Raptors are not one of them.

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