Report: Kawhi has no desire to play for Raptors
Kawhi Leonard has "no desire" to play for the Toronto Raptors, according to ESPN's Chris Haynes.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year is reportedly being exported north of the border along with Danny Green in exchange for a package including four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a protected 2019 first-round pick.
With Leonard a year out from the possibility of hitting free agency, the Raptors have "a very tough sell" on their hands, a source told TNT's David Aldridge.
A 15 percent trade kicker increases Leonard's 2018-19 salary to $23.1 million, and though he has a player option worth $21.3 million for 2019-20, there's little chance he opts in at that below-market figure, barring catastrophic injury. In all likelihood, Leonard will test the open market next summer as an unrestricted free agent.
In addition to a one-year window to change the 27-year-old's opinion of the organization (and stymie a reported desire to play for the Los Angeles Lakers), the Raptors have one ace up their sleeve. Toronto can re-sign Leonard to a five-year deal in the range of $190 million next summer, whereas he stands to lock in just $141 million over four years should he sign elsewhere.