Kawhi Leonard had his legacy in mind when he chose to return to the Toronto Raptors over other intriguing destinations.
The trade sending Leonard back up North was officially finalized earlier this week, ending a months-long saga that left the All-Star swingman in limbo. The two-time NBA Finals MVP reportedly chose the Raptors over several other suitors looking to secure an extension agreement alongside any trade.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday night that choosing Toronto was “a complete legacy play” for Leonard.
“There were teams — Detroit, Minnesota — others that had interest in trading for him, that wanted to trade for him, that wanted to give him an extension,” Charania said during his recent appearance on TSN.
“But he made a decision because he had one year left on his deal to essentially weed out where he wanted to play, where he wanted to be. And so this is a legacy play for Kawhi Leonard. There’s no doubt about it.”
Early offseason reports indicated that Leonard was only open to signing an extension with two teams: the Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs. It’s no coincidence that the pair of landing spots represented the two franchises he had helped lead to a championship.
Leonard’s name has been dragged into controversy over the past year amid allegations of under-the-table dealings that may have benefited him and members of his family. Finding success in Toronto again may be Kawhi’s best hope of rehabilitating his image.
