Kawhi Leonard’s free agency in 2019 was one of the biggest storylines in NBA history, but a new report sheds light on why he refused to join the Lakers. According to Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star, Leonard never wanted to play with LeBron James, and it ultimately left the Lakers as nothing more than an afterthought in the sweepstakes.
“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 ," reported The Star. "Leonard didn’t want to play with LeBron James, so the Lakers were a third wheel in the sweepstakes."
The Raptors always knew there was a risk that Kawhi would leave in 2019, but they believed he could be swayed to stay after winning the title. With Jimmy Butler headed to Miami and the Lakers out of the picture, it was really between the Raptors and the Clippers that summer.
"Jimmy Butler, a preferred partner, was headed to Miami," Arthur added. "And Leonard recognized that Toronto was the best basketball situation, all told.”
Kawhi has deep-rooted connections to Los Angeles, and everyone knew that he would be lured back there as a free agent. While Masai Ujiri and the Raptors willingly took that risk by trading for him in 2018, they believed that their success that season would alter the course of his NBA plans.
The Raptors tried everything to get Kawhi to stay, going so far as to entertain his request for exclusive endorsement deals and other illegal requests. He even tried to ask for a stake in the Maple Leafs, but was gently turned down. So when he ultimately rejected their offer, in favor of joining the Clippers, it left the entire fanbase (including Serge Ibaka) in shock.
What's even more telling is that he rejected the opportunity to play with LeBron James, who has historically been considered a valuable teammate. As two versatile, all-around superstars, James and Leonard would have dominated the West, but it would have also compromised Leonard's stats as the best player on his team.
As he was entering his prime, Kawhi wanted to take charge of his own franchise, and the Clippers gave him the perfect chance. He convinced them to get him a co-star (Paul George) while also potentially securing secret back-deal agreements. Most importantly, they let Kawhi be Kawhi without any resistance or attempts to undermine his role.
Sadly, the results haven't been great for the Clippers. Totaling about $210.7 million over his time with the team, Leonard's payout has been massive, and he's given little in return. Over the past six seasons, he's only led the Clippers past the second round one time, with just one season topping 60 games played.
Now, with the ongoing Aspiration scandal, Kawhi's potentially secret and illegal dealings with the Clippers could cost anywhere from a fine to the forfeiture of draft picks, or even the loss of Kawhi himself. In many ways, the Lakers dodged a bullet, and Leonard's disinterest in playing with LeBron may have actually worked out in their favor, given that they currently have Luka Doncic leading the way.
In the end, Kawhi Leonard chose independence over partnership, and the Clippers gave him everything he wanted. The Raptors gave up too much to keep him, and the Lakers were never a real option once LeBron came into the picture. Looking back now, it’s fair to wonder if Leonard’s refusal to share the stage with James ended up shaping not just his career, but the fate of three franchises at once.
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