Clippers are 'Frontrunner' to Sign Kawhi Leonard?

The Los Angeles Clippers are reportedly the frontrunner to sign Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard in free agency next summer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Leonard, who was traded from the San Antonio Spurs to the Raptors over the summer, is under contract for one year with Toronto, but is expected to opt out of his current deal in July 2019 to enter the free agent market.

The report from Wojnarowski states that Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard/forward Jimmy Butler—who also has a player option in 2019 and intends to become a free agent next summer—would like to be traded to the Clippers in order to pair up with Leonard. The Clippers will have enough cap space for two max contracts, which Leonard and Butler will both demand.

Butler wants out of Minnesota, despite the efforts of Timberwolves president of basketball operations and coach Tom Thibodeau to convince him to stay with the franchise.

While Butler has made it known he wants to play with Leonard, it’s unclear as to whether Leonard would want to leave Toronto to team up with Butler.

The Raptors remain confident they can convince Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, to stay in Toronto long-term. The Raptors finished in first in the Eastern Conference standings last season. They are one of the favorites to represent the East in the NBA Finals, along with the Boston Celtics.

Kawhi Leonard reportedly wants to play for the Clippers in 2019. (Getty Images)

After acquiring Leonard, Raptors president Masai Ujiri explained that he believes the team’s on-court product—coupled with the city’s passionate fans—will induce the former Finals MVP to stay in Toronto.

"I think there’s a lot to sell here," Ujiri said at a press conference in July. "Our team, our culture, our city, our ownership, we have everything here except a championship, in my humble opinion. I don’t think we lack anything in this city. We have great fans, we have a great organization,we have a great following, I think we have a great country. There is something about this place that reaches out to the whole world and we’re proud of that and we’re going to continue to sell that. Hopefully it’s an appeal, not only to him but to more NBA players."

While Ujiri is determined to make Leonard the face of the franchise for years to come, numerous reports have suggested the two-time All-Star is enamored with the city of Los Angeles and only wants to play for either the Clippers or the Lakers. Signing with the Lakers would mean Leonard would have to play second fiddle to LeBron James, who signed with the franchise in July.