Kawhi Leonard\u2019s free agency saga in 2019 reshaped the NBA, and now new reporting offers clarity on why the Lakers were never seriously in play.<\/p>\n
Leonard flat out did not want to team up with LeBron James, according to Bruce Arthur<\/a> of the Toronto Star.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Raptors believed there was a real chance he would return instead of going to the Clippers despite the lure of Leonard\u2019s home state of California,\u201d Arthur reported. \u201cLeonard didn\u2019t want to play with LeBron James, so the Lakers were a third wheel in the sweepstakes.\u201d<\/p>\n Toronto was coming off its first NBA title and hoped the championship glow might convince Kawhi to stay.<\/p>\n But, Arthur noted that the picture shifted quickly once Jimmy Butler made his own decision.<\/p>\n \u201cJimmy Butler, a preferred partner, was headed to Miami,\u201d Arthur added. \u201cAnd Leonard recognized that Toronto was the best basketball situation, all told.\u201d<\/p>\n Even so, Leonard\u2019s long-standing ties to Los Angeles were strong, and the Clippers positioned themselves as the franchise that would give him complete control.<\/p>\n And sure enough, Leonard was lured back there.<\/p>\n