Kawhi Leonard: Lakers told of Raptors plan to keep Kawhi Leonard beyond free agency
KAWHI LEONARD will have one year with the Toronto Raptors before potentially becoming a free agent and the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be heavily interested.
However, Raptors president Masai Ujiri has revealed how he plans to convince Leonard to stay in Toronto.
Leonard dominated the trade headlines this offseason after a breakdown in relationship with the San Antonio Spurs.
Los Angeles was supposedly his preferred destination, with either the Lakers and Clippers making an enquiry.
Both teams were put off by the trade demands from San Antonio but then Toronto quickly emerged as surprise contenders and stole the 2014 NBA Finals MVP in a blockbuster trade.
The move has drawn some similarities to Paul George’s trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder last year when he looked destined to join the Lakers.
He opted to re-sign with the Thunder instead of exploring free agency and Toronto are seemingly hoping for a similar outcome with Leonard.
But Ujiri is hoping a simple approach with Leonard over the next few months will be enough to prove Toronto is the right place to be.
“When teams are put in this situation for me it’s not promising what you don’t have,” Ujiri said on the Woj Pod.
“We are who we are and we are going to be prepared and make things good and smooth.
“You want to be genuine, you want to be real. This is who we are. We might not be the best ones in weather but we might be the best ones in many other places.
“I think the diversity, the city, the uniqueness of a place like that. Our fans, the atmosphere; I think those things are so unique and it’s beginning to show everywhere that this place is a little unique.
“You have to put the basketball together and maybe before the basketball wasn’t a part of it but I know there’s a part of him that I’m sure thinks that this team has a chance with his team-mates and seeing how hard these guys are working.
“We have to show who we are. There’s no fake-sale job here. This is what it is and hopefully we have a good year and we can prepare well.”
“We have to do it in a respectful way and I think as long as he feels that then I think we will give it our best.
“It’s not the race to see how quick he talks. You make him feel comfortable and then he will begin to feel that comfort and make other people feel comfortable too.”