Kawhi Leonard Raptors

Toronto and the rest of the NBA are waiting for Kawhi Leonard

Will he stay or will he go? And if the latter, where? And if the former, great! And when will he let us know? And what does it mean for the Toronto Raptors defending their first ever NBA championship?

Kawhi Leonard is torturing sports fans, reporters and league executives alike right now with his apparent reluctance to make (or at least to announce) a decision about who he'll suit up for next season.

Analysts been have changing their predictions by the hour based on insider tips and rumours of what the highly sought-after Board Man has been up to in his free time since the NBA kicked off its free agent negotiating period June 30.

Some believe the 28-year-old small forward will stay in Toronto after a wildly successful first season with the Raptors — who, by the way, can offer him the most money with a maximum contract worth $190 million over five years.

Others are banking on the Los Angeles Clippers, who have been courting Leonard hard for weeks, or the Los Angeles Lakers, who almost always get what they want in the end (and have piqued the player's interest, according to Magic Johnson).

The teams offer the L.A. native the promise of beautiful weather, LeBron James as a teammate and the chance to live in his home state again.

Rumours were swirling over the long weekend that Leonard might even team up with fellow superstar Kevin Durant to play for the New York Knicks.

Durant has since signed with the Brooklyn Nets, where instead he'll form a super-duo with Kyrie Irving.

Leonard, who last year was traded to Toronto from the San Antonio Spurs with one year (plus a player option) left on his contract, is the last big-name unrestricted free agent left in the pool at this point, and basketball buffs are growing impatient.

"The only superstar NBA free agent who didn't agree to a deal on Sunday also didn't agree to a deal on Monday," wrote SB Nation's Tom Ziller Tuesday morning. "And here we all are all the way on July 2 for crying out loud, still waiting for Kawhi to decide between the NBA champion Toronto Raptors, the LA Lakers, and the LA Clippers."

"Everything is relative, and the other big names making their deals before free agency even began (even at its earlier than usual time market this season) has made the Kawhi wait unbearable, even though in reality it's been only a matter of hours."

Whatever happens, the world will no doubt have plenty to say.

I wouldn't hold your breath awaiting a decision, though: Leonard is weighing his options thoroughly, by all reports, and has yet to even meet with Toronto for the team's final pitch.

Raptors coach Nick Nurse said on Sunday that team officials would be meeting with Leonard in "in the next day or so," according to the Associated Press.

"It's believed the Raptors will get the last meeting, with Leonard also likely to talk with the Clippers and Lakers, both out of Los Angeles — possibly among other teams — before making up his mind," writes the AP's Tim Reynolds.

"No deals can become final until Saturday, when the NBA's annual moratorium ends. For some teams, the extra time to work through details seems necessary."

Lead photo by

Toronto Raptors


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Toronto just got a new waterfront park that's been years in the making

Here's why swarms of giant birds are being seen in Ontario skies right now

A parasitic fungus is turning Ontario creepy crawlies into suicidal zombies

Three different Ontario LRT lines are now in major trouble

Shocking hit-and-run video shows Ontario driver try to flee in totalled truck

Canada now has universal pharmacare here's how it will affect you

Alleged drunk driver crashes then tries to flee through Ontario police station

Northern Lights took over Ontario skies in rare show and the photos are out of this world