Kawhi Leonard's market is starting to look less like a wide-open sweepstakes and more like a Toronto question.
Eric Koreen of The Athletic reported that the Raptors and Clippers have been engaged on Leonard for days, with Toronto seen as the frontrunner by league sources. Dallas has also pursued Leonard, but the reported edge for Toronto is simple: Leonard is willing to sign an extension with the Raptors.
San Antonio is also on that extension list, according to the report, but the Spurs side does not appear nearly as interested. That matters. Leonard's willingness to stay beyond one season can change what a team is willing to send back to Los Angeles, especially with the Clippers moving younger after dealing James Harden and Ivica Zubac earlier in the offseason.
For Toronto, the case is more complicated than nostalgia. Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles remain the long-term pieces, while Brandon Ingram, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl carry major money on the books. A Leonard trade would be a win-now swing, but only if the cost stays reasonable and the extension does not crush the next phase of the roster.
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