Kawhi Leonard

Prediction: Re-signs with LA Clippers

The LA Clippers had a real chance to pull off a run to the NBA Finals before Kawhi Leonard found himself sidelined toward the end of the Western Conference Semifinals. The team managed to overcome not having him to the point of making a respectable push to the Western Conference Finals — losing to the Phoenix Suns after Leonard’s absence was too much to overcome.

Leonard is set to become by far the top name in free agency with many other superstars, including his teammate, Paul George, already having signed long-term contract extensions to remain with their current team. There will be no shortage of suitors in pursuit of the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat plan to make a ‘hard push’ to sign Kawhi Leonard in free agency.

The Mavericks and Heat plan to make a hard push to acquire Leonard, league sources say. The Knicks will also pursue any superstar that becomes available, and a long list of other suitors would at least make an attempt if he hits the market.

O’Connor added that some league executives view the Mavericks as being the ‘most serious threat’ to land Leonard as a result of having Luka Doncic, salary cap flexibility, and the relationship Leonard has with new general manager Nico Harrison.

Dallas is considered by some executives to be the most serious threat to land Kawhi because of Luka Doncic’s presence and the front office’s ability to create maximum cap space or work out a sign-and-trade. During Leonard’s years with Nike, he also developed a good relationship with Nico Harrison, the Mavs’ new general manager and a former longtime executive at the company.

Using the fact that the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals as the basis for whether Leonard will stay is not the best indicator. Keep in mind, this is the same person who chose to depart from the Toronto Raptors after successfully pulling off a championship run with the Toronto Raptors.

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What makes it difficult to envision Kawhi Leonard leaving the Clippers is that he signed with the Clippers large in part to be in California. The Mavericks and Heat each have their compelling reasons as to why Leonard should choose them in free agency, but they still aren’t located in California.

Now, if residing in California is no longer what’s most important for Leonard, the landscape of the situation changes immensely. The Mavericks should rank atop the list given Luka Doncic’s emergence given how Leonard has experienced his impact firsthand having faced him in back-to-back postseasons.