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Immediately after getting traded by the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors, Kawhi Leonard made it known that he wasn’t interested in playing in Toronto.
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.
A few hours after the trade it seems like Kawhi has backtracked on the idea of sitting out and is now excited about the possibilities of contending in the east.
Via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN
They’ve been in communication with Kawhi Leonard’s camp. He’s going to play. He’ll be in training camp. He’s healthy. He may be at USA Basketball’s minicamp next week which Gregg Popovich is coaching. That’s possible.
But the one thing I was told today he’s started to warm to the idea that he’s going to a contender. He’s got a team that could be as good as anybody in the Eastern Conference.
And now it’s on Toronto to try to recruit him, keep him. But in his mind right now, he’s headed to L.A. next year.
Toronto has a real chance to compete in the east next season, we’ll see if that’s going to be enough to keep Kawhi for the long haul.