Kawhi Leonard choosing the LA Clippers in free agency came as a surprise to many, but anyone who heard his uncle talking during the playoffs might have seen it coming.
Toronto Star columnist Bruce Arthur shared his thoughts on Leonard leaving the Raptors in a column he published on Saturday. In his column, Arthur said that Dennis Robertson, Leonard’s uncle and manager, talked about the Clippers throughout the Raptors’ postseason run.
From Arthur’s column:
During the playoffs, and even the Finals, sources indicate Kawhi and his adviser and uncle Dennis Robertson were focused on the Clippers, even as Toronto’s championship run unfolded. During the playoffs Robertson was overheard more than once in the post-game back-hall melees talking about leaving; even after Game 4 in Philadelphia, where Kawhi made the first of two shots in the series to save the season, and during the Finals.
We even heard someone in the background of one of Kawhi’s sister’s Instagram videos saying Leonard was leaving too.
Leonard was always believed to be leaving Toronto after the season, though the Thunder’s ability to re-sign Paul George the year before and the Raptors’ championship may have given them some hope he would return.
Leonard may have left Toronto, but he gave them the ultimate parting gift: their first championship in franchise history.
