Kawhi Leonard Declines Player Option But Is ‘Seriously Considering’ Re-Signing With The Raptors
On Sunday, Kawhi Leonard officially declined his player option with the Raptors for the coming season, making him an unrestricted free agent. However, there are numerous reports that Leonard is strongly considering coming back to Toronto.
Via Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports:
‘Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard will decline his 2019-20 player option worth $21.3 million to become an unrestricted free agent, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
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The Raptors are the only team that can offer Leonard a max contract for five years and $190 million.
Leonard, 27, is believed to be seriously considering re-signing with the Raptors, sources said.’
The max deal isn’t the only option on the table for Kawhi. According Marc Stein of The New York Times, he can sign the type of short-term deal that both Durant and LeBron James have done in the past to keep their options open and give them leverage without committing to a multi-year deal.
One prime option for Kawhi, remember, is signing a two-year, $70 million deal with Toronto — with a player option in Year 2 — that allows him to run it back with the Raptors for one more year and do this all again next summer
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 23, 2019
Free agency doesn’t officially start until next week, but speculation has pointed towards Leonard either re-signing with the Raptors, or going to the Clippers.