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Last night, Kawhi Leonard was finally moved by the San Antonio Spurs after he requested a trade over a month ago. Unfortunately, Kawhi got traded to the Toronto Raptors and not his preferred destination in Los Angeles. Kawhi and his team have made it known that he doesn’t want to play in Toronto and according to the Sporting News Leonard might sit out next season.
Kawhi Leonard has no desire to play in Toronto, league source tells ESPN.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 18, 2018
Via Sporting News
And, league sources told Sporting News, Leonard has no interest in playing for the Raptors. There have been indications that he would sit out the entire season if necessary, and though that step would be drastic and unprecedented in today’s game, Toronto has forced the situation into uncharted territory by acquiring a player who has made it clear he does not want to be there.
Kawhi’s situation with Toronto is unprecedented but the league could be forced to step in if Leonard chooses to voluntarily sit out while still under contract. According to the CBA, Leonard could be forced to relinquish his rights to a big contract next Summer is he does indeed choose to sit out.
Via r/NBA
A player who withholds playing services called for by a Player Contract for more than thirty (30) days after the start of the last Season covered by his Player Contract shall be deemed not to have “complet[ed] his Player Contract by rendering the playing services called for thereunder.” Accordingly, such a player shall not be a Veteran Free Agent and shall not be entitled to negotiate or sign a Player Contract with any other professional basketball team unless and until the Team for which the player last played expressly agrees otherwise.
Last season Leonard was able to sit out for most of the season despite being cleared by the Spurs doctors while rehabbing his injured thigh because San Antonio’s front office was trying repair their relationship with him. It’s unlikely that he’ll be granted the same luxury in Toronto.
h/t The Big Lead ,