Offseason is here and teams are currently getting busy building up their roster of players to be in the best shape possible for next season. In the cases of Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant, some major shifts are in the works. It would seem that Kawhi Leonard wants to be a Lakers player and passed up a $221 million contract for it. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, is supposedly considering becoming a free agent.
It would seem that Kawhi Leonard’s upcoming participation in the USA Basketball camp for the San Antonio Spurs comes with a wrinkle, ESPN reports. Based on what league sources have told the sports publication, the forward was supposed to have signed a contract extension for five years and at $221 million. This was on Monday, but it simply didn’t happen.
So now, there are concerns that his participation might be a way for him to showcase his recovery to prospective trade options. Specifically, it might be Kawhi Leonard’s attempt at convincing the Lakers that he is ready to join their lineup. This is creating problems as exemplified by the fact that a bidding war for him has not happened.
As for Kevin Durant, a 2019 stint with the New York Knicks could be his next destination as a free agent, Express.co.uk reports. This was based on speculations regarding the deal that he recently signed, which could lead him to free agency this coming summer. At least, this is what New York Daily News reporter Frank Isola surmised in a recent piece.
If this is the case, the next lineup of free agency could potentially include Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, along with Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving. This should make some waves in the industry, with the Knicks likely to be interested in getting at least one of them.
