Hoops Habit
Fansided

2019 NBA free agency: Ranking Kawhi Leonard’s best potential landing spots

By Daniel Lubofsky

TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reacts in the first half against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reacts in the first half against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

1. Toronto Raptors

When the Toronto Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard last summer, a lot of their ability to have him sign long-term hinged on the results of the coming season. Nearly a year later, the results speak for themselves as well as Masai Ujiri could’ve hoped for.

The Raptors finished the regular season with the second-most wins in the league at 58. They would take out the 60-win Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals and go on to slay the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors to claim their first NBA title in franchise history.

Toronto did just about everything it could to make Leonard happy during his stay. The coaching staff allowed him to rest for 22 regular season games, while the front office showed an aggressive nature of operation with the midseason acquisition of Marc Gasol.

Throughout the team’s marvelous postseason run, Leonard was front and center with as great a case as any for the newly available title of the best basketball player in the world. Whereas some superstars may find their supporting cast lagging behind, Kawhi’s thrived on the game’s biggest stage.

Five other Raptors averaged double-figure scoring numbers throughout the six-game series, led by Pascal Siakam‘s 19.8 a game. A near lock to win the Most Improved Player trophy, Siakam appears destined for stardom with a versatile inside-out two-way game and range that is sure to expand with both time and reps.

The organization has an entire country behind them and can offer Kawhi another year on his contract with an extra $50 million. Questions may arise regarding the roster in coming years, but after acquiring both Leonard and Gasol, Ujiri’s clearly shown no fear in sliding all his chips towards the middle of the table.

So much of the NBA offseason is spent watching every type of player switch teams in attempts to better their situations. The weather of Los Angeles is hard to beat, as are the bright lights of New York City.

Toronto Raptors: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season. dark. Next

What Kawhi Leonard has in Toronto doesn’t come around very often. After the Raptors proved themselves at the highest level with talent both young and seasoned, and room to grow, it’s a scenario he shouldn’t have to give much thought towards before gearing up for a title defense.