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Kawhi Leonard’s free agency saga in 2019 reshaped the NBA, and now new reporting offers clarity on why the Lakers were never seriously in play.
Leonard flat out did not want to team up with LeBron James, according to Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star.
“The Raptors believed there was a real chance he would return instead of going to the Clippers despite the lure of Leonard’s home state of California,” Arthur reported. “Leonard didn’t want to play with LeBron James, so the Lakers were a third wheel in the sweepstakes.”
Toronto was coming off its first NBA title and hoped the championship glow might convince Kawhi to stay.
But, Arthur noted that the picture shifted quickly once Jimmy Butler made his own decision.
“Jimmy Butler, a preferred partner, was headed to Miami,” Arthur added. “And Leonard recognized that Toronto was the best basketball situation, all told.”
Even so, Leonard’s long-standing ties to Los Angeles were strong, and the Clippers positioned themselves as the franchise that would give him complete control.
And sure enough, Leonard was lured back there.
Toronto, meanwhile, had already dealt with some unusual contract demands.
The decision has had ripple effects across the league. Leonard went on to sign for over $200 million with the Clippers, but injuries and inconsistency have limited his postseason success.
Meanwhile, James carried on in Los Angeles, and now the Lakers are built around Luka Doncic instead of Leonard.
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