Kawhi Leonard will be an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his player option for next season. While it is likely that he would re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers after their successful season, he could potentially go elsewhere if he decided to.
NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith has stated that Kawhi Leonard would likely go to the Miami Heat over the Los Angeles Lakers if he were a free agent. Smith cited the lack of money/cap space as part of the reason Leonard would likely not be a Laker.
Stephen A seeing Kawhi going to Miami instead of Lakers if he opts out 🐳🐳🐳🐳 pic.twitter.com/OolciUBTMu
— 𝘼𝙇𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙨 ™ (@AIR305) June 28, 2021
I would see him going someplace like Miami before I saw that happen. Cause obviously he’s gonna want his money, and I don’t know how much money the Lakers have to give him.
Kawhi Leonard’s potential fit with the Miami Heat would be pretty good, and it would give them a big three of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kawhi Leonard. That would be a team that is amazing on both ends, and Leonard’s presence would likely mean that the Heat would be a championship contender. However, Smith’s suggestion for Leonard going to Miami would only happen if Leonard wanted to leave the Clippers, or if the Clippers decided not to re-sign him. It remains to be seen what Leonard will do in free agency, but it seems as though there’s no reason for him not to stay with a team that reached the Conference Finals this season.
