- The Toronto Raptors have already begun their year-long recruitment effort to convince Leonard to re-sign after the 2018-19 season.
- The team is reportedly set to add Jeremy Castleberry, a close friend of Leonard, to the coaching staff.
- Beyond whatever success the Raptors have this season, it's likely that the Raptors' decision to trade for Leonard will be judged mostly on whether the team is successful in keeping him beyond the one season.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Raptors' 1-year recruitment to keep Kawhi Leonard has already begun
The Toronto Raptors landed one of the biggest prizes of the NBA offseason when they traded for Kawhi Leonard — now the team just has to figure out how to make sure the superstar stays.
The Toronto Raptors landed one of the biggest prizes of the NBA offseason, bringing in San Antonio Spurs superstar Kawhi Leonard in exchange for their own All-Star, DeMar DeRozan.
When healthy, Leonard is one of the top players in the NBA, but the Raptors' move came with some inherent risk, as Leonard is only under contract for one more season, and has been clear about his desire to play in Los Angeles.
Knowing that they will be competing with the entire free agency market in their effort to keep Kawhi through the next offseason, Toronto's 2018-19 campaign will likely be a year-long recruitment effort to keep Leonard happy, and the process has already begun.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Tuesday, ESPN's Ian Begley reported that the Raptors are set to sign
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
ADVERTISEMENT