Our wait for Kawhi Leonard‘s free agent decision appears likely to extend until at least Saturday. According to Cris Carter of Fox Sports 1 (Twitter link), Leonard remains undecided and doesn’t plan to finalize and announce his decision today.
Interestingly, Carter also adds that Leonard is expected to sign a long-term contract with whichever team he chooses. There had been some speculation that he might sign a one- or two-year deal in order to potentially line himself up for a larger maximum-salary contract in 2021, when he has 10+ years of NBA experience. Carter suggests that’s not the plan.
[RELATED: Poll: Which team will Kawhi Leonard choose?]
The NBA’s July moratorium will end on Saturday at noon eastern time, at which point teams will be able to finalize the free agent deals and trades that they’ve agreed upon over the last week.
While that doesn’t exactly represent a deadline for Leonard, the Raptors, Clippers, and especially the Lakers will presumably be hoping a decision comes in by then. The Clippers and Lakers each have $32MM+ in cap room that they could commit to other players if they don’t land Kawhi.
The Lakers would lose some of their cap room if they finalize the Anthony Davis trade with the Pelicans right away when the moratorium lifts — their $32MM in cap space relies on signing free agents first, then completing the Davis deal using salary-matching rules, since AD’s salary will exceed their total outgoing salaries. So if Leonard’s decision extends beyond the end of the July moratorium, they’ll want to wait a little longer to finalize that trade.
However, the Pelicans have a subsequent trade with the Hawks that hinges on getting the No. 4 pick from the Lakers, and Atlanta will flip one of the draft picks involved in that deal in another trade, and so on. Several teams – including the Wizards, Sixers, and Pistons, who are also all linked to the series of moves – will be anxious to complete those trades to get their draftees into Summer League action in Las Vegas.
Other free agents, including Danny Green, could also be impacted by the wait for Leonard, since their options will be impacted by which teams still have cap space available. NBA free agency appears to be a little stuck at the moment as everyone waits on Kawhi — no deals have been agreed upon since Wednesday night.
Lakers out. What a shame. Wait all this time and lose out on all those free agents for this outcome. What a joke. I’m not mad at him, he can take all the time he wants. As a life long Lakers fan I’m hugely disappointed in the Lakers for not being smart and getting other guys that could’ve helped this team and instead now you’re gonna end up with not much to show for all that money. Still got AD, LeBron and Kuzma but need a solid team around them.
Where does it say they are out? If Kawhi only cared about money he would have re signed in Toronto or even stayed in SA for the supermax.
If I’m weighing “the other guys who could’ve helped this team” vs Kawhi, I’m still trying for Kawhi. Lakers aren’t a title contender without Kawhi. The risk is worth the reward in my opinion.
I think they are out because they are losing money. Think money isn’t everything but still is worth something here
Hate definitely distorts the mind buddy. It says nothing about the Lakers being Out, I’m fact it says the opposite
Can the Hawks put pressure on the teams to submit the paperwork and push the trade thru?
Cuz they don’t get Hunter without the trade becoming official, and if they back out, either the Pels or Lakers have to take on Hunter & his cap hold. There’s a lot more to this than just the big names.
I don’t see how the Lakers have any leverage here.
I think the most likely scenario is the Lakers just taking an extra day or two to complete the trade if need be. The other teams would be annoyed, but there’s not much they’d be able to do about it.
If Kawhi took another week, that’s a different story, but I can’t imagine it’ll extend beyond this weekend.
Do you know how these moratorium (and pre-moratorium) trades are effected relative to the normal trade process-?
Is tomorrow the “trade call” or has that (or equivalent) already happened, and the moratorium passing is just one of the conditions to the trade becoming effective-?
If the process is just starting tomorrow (with the call), then it might take a few days to complete (physicals, etc.). Although I imagine the Lakers wouldn’t want to start it without knowing they had KL’s signature (or the signatures of others on contracts totaling 32 mm) to submit. If so, it could take more than a few days. Hard to believe this was all done without some writing between the teams (at least) with some timelines.
Actually, all the dominoes need to fall as planned for a lot of teams. I was worried a week or so ago that the Hawks could void the Allen Crabbe trade after he was arrested. That would put the breaks on KD and Kyrie.
“Lakers out. What a shame.”
Ah yes, its always a shame when the team with a ton of titles misses out, LOL sit down man, let others eat.
Kick rocks. All you idiots on here are more annoying then the d bags on social media.
Not surprised I really think he had all intentions of waiting until at least Saturday so he can speak to Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis as of midnight Eastern time will officially be a Laker and can take part in the recruiting process I think Leonard wants to wait and see what his plans are. I also do believe corner it will be a long-term deal really sounds like he does have the inside track on the Leonard camp and has been reported he has been good friends with him for many years. I say we get an announcement tomorrow or Sunday.
He can talk to Davis whenever he wants (and likely has). Davis just couldn’t sit in on the official meeting with the Lakers earlier this week.
Also, as detailed in this story, if Davis officially becomes a Laker before Kawhi does, they lose a bunch of cap room, so I’m skeptical that’s his plan.
Why would he have to wait until Davis is a laker to talk to him?
Why can’t he talk to Davis the same way he talked to Magic?
If you believe the reports, k already had individual meetings with LBJ, AD, and the Lakers owner. So he’s already talked to AD, if you believe reporters.
AD wasn’t involved in those meetings because he still belongs to the Pels until the deal is officially completed.
Kawhi was more interested in the dynamics within the Lakers’ front office and felt that Magic was a better source having played on Super Teams. Toronto is not a good long time bet when you consider that most of the current players have one year on their deals. The Clippers are a good long turn choice having a solid front office and a great owner. The Lakers have two other superstars so that even when LBJ retires they would still have AD. It then comes down toKawhi being able to trust Pelinka and the Busses to be able to fill out a roster.
The Raptors have a solid young core (Siakam, VanVleet, Anunoby) and will have a ton of cap space in future seasons. They also have Masai at the helm who has proven to be very good at drafting, even late in the first round/second round. The narrative that they are only set up to win for one more season is false.
C-D- A lot of teams have that much talent. Ujiri would have to be able to find allNBA talent, not just good talent, or draw it to Toronto. (Or get it to re-sign finally!)
AD can talk to whoever he wants whenever he wants. And, if reports are true, he has already spoke to kawhi. Given kawhi’s due diligence I am pretty certain he would have spoke to AD especially to get visibility on what he is doing with his free agency next year
As was involved according to reports! They meet individually. Their conversation according to report was about the fit between the three of them.
It has more to do with Kawhi wanting attention and waiting until the morretorum is over.
But whatever story you want to create in your head is fine too.
Ya if there’s anything we’ve learnt about Kawhi it’s that he’s a conventional superstar who loves being in the limelight
Lakers got played. Likely weren’t getting him anyway now if they want a chance with him they have to delay the trade
He’s going to wait until training camps open and its going to be hilarious watching how mad people get at him for exercising his right to do so.
You know what’s more hilarious? Him waiting till the last day of the regular season and hold both the LA teams hostage until then.
NBA fans are the most hyperbolic, biggest drama queens in all of pro sports, he’s not “holding anyone hostage” LOL grow up
So you can make a hyperbolic joke and it’s fine. I do and I need to grow up.
For the love of god, pick a team, will you?
For the love of god, have some patience will you? It hasn’t even been a week. You’d really hate MLB free agency.
Pelinka should give his uncle a deadline of 8am PST to make up his mind. Time to move on with or without him.
He’s the biggest name in the league right now. The lakers need Kawhi WAY more than he needs them. You can’t issue ultimatums if you’re the lakers. You will wait until the new king of the league is darn good and ready.
Then to all the folks who say the Lakers are too much drama, and Kawhi doesn’t need any drama should realize that right now, KAWHI IS THE ONLY ONE CREATING ANY DRAMA.
this wait only benefits the LA teams in all likelihood. Not sure why everyone is writing off the Lakers here.
He knows what the Raptors have to offer.
Lakers’ trade needs to become official AFTER Kawhi signs, and delaying the trade effects multiple franchises (i.e. De’Andre Hunter to Hawks via Pels via Lakers)
Why would the Hawks be ok with delaying the trade and not being able to see Hunter in Summer League?
The wait doesn’t benefit the Lakers in any way.
Correct. The wait strongly suggests Lakers are no longer in play. May mean Raptors are trying to arrange a S&T with an acceptable destination, like Clips or somewhere else. Never quite felt the three team storyline was the whole deal.
One of the following is true:
– KL is not going to the Lakers.
– KL is signing w/ the Lakers tomorrow morning.
– Lakers have the ability to delay the AD trade.
Or, I guess, KL will end up signing with the Lakers later for significantly less than he could tomorrow morning.
Virtually every report so far has been wrong so why should we believe that he won’t sign today?
Well when it’s one of if not the best players in league u have to wait even if the lakers miss out on free agents and him u have to wait for a player like him
Pelinka & West should be making a promise or two to cetain FAs. I bet neither really wants to roll over the space.
Everyone says KL deserves to take his time. Why? All the other big name guys and even second tier guys had their thoughts together and teams sized up. Pulled the trigger right away. I love KL but if he’s really considering either LA team, then he’s shooting him self in the foot. He’s missed out on potential team mates while he makes up his mind. I could see taking 2 days, maybe 3, but this is borderline ridiculous. If he actually drags his feet till the Lakers have to sign people, then it was all a ploy. He was never coming here. Don’t forget the Lakers dumped 2 players and a draft pick to get to the max. If they can’t use all their cap money, that deal was wasted.
And….there’s nothing he’s going to learn today that he didn’t know yesterday.
Not necessarily. If he’s going to the Clippers, he might be waiting until they can pull of a trade for a second veteran All-Star simultaneous with signing him.
He knows everything he needs to know about both the Raptors and the Lakers. So I think it’s safe to assume they are his back-up choices if the Clippers can’t make a deal.
Deserves-? Each FA has a right (CBA) to decide when he likes, just like every team has the right to offer who they like, when they like.
He hasn’t cost himself any teammates. He may leave the teams he doesn’t sign with in a tougher spot (although that’s mostly the Lakers), that’s not a reason for him to rush. The Lakers are making their alternative players wait and see if they have a spot or not. Some of those guys may have passed on other deals. What gives the Lakers the right to keep these guys waiting-?
So you are saying the quality of FAs left today is the same as it was on Tues? And I’m talking the min salary guys and room exception. I am not the one who said “deserves”. Other people have said that. And just because he has the right, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. How do you defend a guy that takes a week to decide? It’s inconsiderate in my opinion. I’ll say it again. What will he learn tomorrow that he doesn’t know today?
Agree. I think people are getting wise to Kawhi.
It’s no big deal, Lakers can just not answer the calls from the Pelicans and Hawks til Monday afternoon, it’s a holiday weekend
If Lakers don’t get him tomorrow they are out. Leonard not making a decision today is bad news for the Lakers, but they won’t have the door closed until tomorrow.
So do teams reneg on deals if Kawhi is like I’ll play.
What other FA do the Lakers really go after like who do you give 32 or 27M to if you’re the Lakers? It’s not 1 yr it’s a 4 yr decision.
Eh? They have multiple slots to fill. Why must they be be 4year decisions?
The article makes it seem like they should have gone after other ‘stars’.
KD & Klay will miss a year. Kyrie has bad knees. Jimmy & Kemba both a bit too old, even tho Kemba could stretch his style of play longer. D’Lo not enough of a star to pair with LBJ. Middleton & Harris not max players. The rest of the FA list wasn’t even worth considering for a max slot.
The point is – Kawhi is the only player that makes sense for them long-term. If they don’t get Kawhi, they can still patch together a team for 1 season but it would have been a mistake for the LAL to max out any other player. That’s the 4-yr decision.
Kawhi goes to LAC or TOR…. LAL would be in on the 1-yr guys or smaller deals for sure. Danny Green, Jabari Parker, Boogie (eh not a great fit), they could get stupid with Kelly Oubre. Trade for Iggy.
I don’t think Kawhi is all that healthy either. Some of those players like Tobias might be made worth a max due to good pairings… Who better to fit the moods and variances of Embiid & Simmons? Butler out of the picture will actually help Tobias stabilize them.
And Irving will be able to plug into the Nets like he couldn’t in Boston. I’ve already stretched ears with that one.
Of those you listed only Kemba would be an ideal fit on LAL. Kawhi will be a bit awkward.
I think the long time to decide and report of a potential lengthy contract both go against the Raptors. If he wanted to go back there he would have done it already. My guess is he undecided on the LA teams
They will have about 24 hours to spend $32 mil.