Odds Now Favor Kawhi Leonard Signing with Clippers After Making “The Shot” in Toronto
- Odds now peg the Clippers as the favorites to land current Raptor Kawhi Leonard
- Leonard’s game-winner in Game 7 propelled Toronto to the Eastern Conference Finals
- What is the best bet to make on the unrestricted free agent?
Perhaps historic game-winning buzzer-beaters don’t have the same cache as they used to.
KAWHI. GAME 7. FOR THE WIN. pic.twitter.com/MH9CBjQ2uK
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 13, 2019
At least that’s the bookmakers are thinking, who’ve pegged the Clippers as the favorites to land current Raptor Kawhi Leonard in free agency this summer, after Leonard hit the winner in Game 7 to send the Raptors to their second-ever Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
Which NBA Team Will Sign Kawhi Leonard?
| Team | 2018 Record | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Clippers | 48-34 | -150 |
| Toronto Raptors | 58-24 | +140 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 37-45 | +200 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 42-40 | +400 |
| New York Knicks | 17-65 | +500 |
| The Field | N/A | +300 |
*Odds taken 05/14/19
This is a swift turnaround to their previous odds just prior to Game 7 between the Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers.
Clippers Present Two Promising Angles
I get why the Clippers have been mentioned as having the inside track to Kawhi: They’re closer to his roots and his climate, and are a franchise that has transformed itself from a team that was going nowhere fast (hello CP, Blake and DeAndre!) into a team that is literally one superstar away from making serious noise in the NBA.
Kawhi Leonard is exactly the type of player that can take this team over the top ? #Clippers #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/PWabCNU3tn
— Clippers Nation (@ClipperNationCP) May 14, 2019
They’ve got super sub Lou Williams and an emerging modern-day big in Montrezl Harrell, with a promising core led by point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and wing Landry Shamet. And, save for a movable Danilo Gallinari expiring contract after next season, they have a clean cap sheet ready to add Leonard, and the necessary pieces to make them a contender.
The Clippers have a clean cap sheet ready to add Leonard, and the necessary pieces to make them a contender.
They’ve also got a bevy of draft picks as sweeteners, highlighted by the Miami unprotected first-rounder in 2021 that could be a huge chip down the road.
Leonard Now Etched into Toronto Sports Lore
The Clippers are a boatload of what-could-be, but the Raptors’ situation is tangible and real. He is in a place already built to allow him to chase ‘chips and be the star.
Top 5 Bounces of The Kawhi Shot:
5. The first one
4. The second one
3. The third one
2. The fourth one
1. When it hit the floor— Tas Melas (@TasMelas) May 13, 2019
And with that franchise-altering dagger, he is now part of the fabric. Leonard was likely going to be an All-Star wherever he went, but he is now more than a rental in Toronto. After an exceptional series against Philly (his 243 total points trails only Jabbar and Jordan for most ever in a series), he’s their guy, and that’s not always easy to walk away from.
If you missed one of the all time great NBA performances have a look. #WeTheNorth @Raptors @kawhileonard Beat the Bucks, bring the Championship to Toronto and sign a deal with Toronto. Better fans can't be found. https://t.co/Xx6igvgR7n
— Bill Wilkinson-FCMC (@thewilkinsonway) May 13, 2019
There are two roster factors that he should definitely think about in Toronto. The emergence of Pascal Siakim as a do-everything wing allows Leonard to worry about scoring and not needing to use his all-world D until key moments in games. They easily form the best forward tandem in the league.
Spotted on the way to work: Raptors offer to Kawhi pic.twitter.com/1ubuj6qNAz
— Dan O'Toole (@tsnotoole) May 13, 2019
The second is that Kyle Lowry is under contract for just next season, and could be moved to add a more consistent playoff performer. If Leonard trusts Masai Ujiri to make the right moves, then taking the five-year, $190 million max (other teams can only offer four for $141 million) seems like a good bet.
Of course, getting past the Bucks and besting Golden State would also make this a foregone conclusion.
What’s the Best Bet to Make Here?
This really appears to be a two-horse race, and the Raptors’ strange drop to +140 only means a better payout in the end for you.
Having worked in and around sports since 1997, Eric is truly a knowledgeable expert. The two-time journalism grad specializes in all things NBA and NFL. From TSN.ca to CTV's Olympic Broadcast Consortium, Eric's work has appeared in local and national publications alike.
