Kyle Lowry on Kawhi Leonard Free Agency: I've Never Been a Guy to Pitch Anything
Jun 14, 2019
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kyle Lowry #7 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors pose for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after winning Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
One day after Kawhi Leonard helped lead the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship, his free agency has become a hot topic of discussion.
In an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols on The Jump, Kyle Lowry explained why he won't pressure Leonard to re-sign with Toronto.
"I've never been a guy to pitch anything to anybody," Lowry said. "[Kawhi's] going to make a decision on himself, and I'm going to be happy for whatever decision he makes. At the end of the day, he helped get what I wanted to get."
Leonard can become a free agent June 30 by opting out of the deal that will pay him $21.3 million next season.
The Raptors' bold move to acquire Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs with one guaranteed year remaining on his contract worked to perfection. He was named MVP of the 2019 NBA Finals after averaging 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals in six games against the Golden State Warriors.
Despite that success, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday on SportsCenter that the Los Angeles Clippers are at the top of Leonard's list of potential landing spots, and the Raptors "still have work to do" before free agency starts at 6 p.m. ET at the end of the month.
Lowry was able to adjust his play to accommodate the arrival of Leonard. His average of 14.2 points per game during the regular season was his lowest mark since 2010-11, but he had a career-high 8.7 assists per contest.
In the decisive Game 6 against the Warriors, Lowry was able to exorcise his playoff demons by scoring 26 points and dishing out 10 assists.
No matter what Leonard decides to do, Lowry's resume includes a championship thanks to the partnership the pair were able to forge in just one season together.
Video: Kawhi Leonard Jokes Kyle Lowry Doesn't Want Him Anymore After Title Win
Jun 14, 2019
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kyle Lowry #7 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors pose for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after winning Game Six of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Spirits are high in the north after the Toronto Raptors claimed the franchise's first NBA championship.
Following the Raptors' 114-110 Game 6 victory over the Golden State Warriors to seal the 2019 NBA Finals on Thursday night at Oracle Arena, Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry sat down with ESPN's Rachel Nichols. When Nichols asked Lowry if he planned to talk to the Finals MVP about his impending free agency, everybody caught the giggles:
Leonard arrived to Toronto via trade from the San Antonio Spurs last July. The 2018-19 season was the last guaranteed on his five-year, $94.3 million contract. He can become an unrestricted free agent June 30 if he declines his $21.3 million player option for 2019-20.
Lowry may not pitch Leonard to re-sign with the Raptors, but there are plenty in Toronto who will—including a fan seen in the streets Thursday night with a plant ready to gift the 27-year-old as a housewarming gift:
Even if Leonard signs elsewhere, the Raptors couldn't have asked for their one-year rental to work out any better.
And neither could Leonard, who is now a two-time champion as well as a two-time Finals MVP.
Toronto Fans Are Making Their Case for Kawhi Leonard to Stay with the Raptors
Jun 14, 2019
BR Video
Fans in Toronto went Kawhi Leonard to come back to go for back to back championships. Watch the video above to see The Six make their case.
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No Asterisks Here: Behind the Scenes of Toronto Raptors Championship Celebration
Jun 14, 2019
Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka, left, guard Kyle Lowry, center, and guard Danny Green celebrate with teammates after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
OAKLAND, Calif. — A security guard rolls a cart stacked high with a mountain of 30 racks along the walkway from the court to the locker room as the NBA Finals ceremony takes place. Media members wait in line to get into the locker room and take video of the new champs following the Toronto Raptors' 114-110 Game 6 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
The players finally emerge from the tunnel and head into the locker room. The media is still held out, but their cheering is audible.
While waiting, Raptors wing Danny Green emerges from the locker room to spray the media with champagne. Eventually, the line turns into a mosh pit, forcing its way into the locker room to view the celebration.
By the time a small wave of media is herded into the away locker room at Oracle Arena, the lid has already been blown off. The walls and floor have been tarped off and are now collecting an inch-deep pool of some combination of cheap beer and bubbly. The hundreds (OK, maybe a hundred) of bottles of Cuvée 89 Rosé float around on top. My socks are soaking through my shoes while writing this.
Nineteen teamshave been to the mountaintop. And now, the Toronto Raptors are one of them.
The party has already been going as Kawhi Leonard enters the cave with his Finals MVP trophy. He pops a bottle, sprays most of it and then gurgles the last little bit. Yes, there is a giant smile on his face. He's a fun guy!
Past him, there are media members draped in ponchos and TV cameras covered in plastic. The few who were less prepared for the fireworks are now soaked.
Pascal Siakam, who scored 26 points in Game 6 and was a revelation all season and postseason, is jumping up and down while draped in a Cameroonian flag. Marc Gasol, Toronto's big midseason trade acquisition who took a lesser role to afford the Raptors a multidimensional look in the frontcourt, is alternating English and Spanish interviews while FaceTiming as Raptors public relations tries to escort him through the herd of cameras for him to give his press conference.
Clutching the Larry O'Brien Trophy, Serge Ibaka is backed up against a tarped wall while a swarm of media questions him. Champagne foam is dripping off his goatee.
"I don't know, but the guys just left [the trophy] with me," Ibaka said. "So I said, 'Why not? I deserve it.'"
After nearly reaching the peak with the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier in his career, he eventually landed in Toronto—no longer the shot-blocking dynamo of his younger days but still a solid frontcourt presence. He adapted to his role, came off the bench and contributed 16.7 points per game over the last three while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.
Kyle Lowry deserves it, too. His 26-point, 10-assist, seven-rebound, three-steal game laid to rest any doubt that he is a meaningful postseason contributor on a championship team. His impact over the series was unquestionable after he and the Raptors had previously underperformed in the postseason.
"Words can't explain how I feel," Lowry said. "It's been a long, long time. Thirteen years of NBA basketball. Couple years of college. A couple years of high school basketball. And to be able to say I'm a world champion, it makes me feel great. And to do it with the group of guys that we did it with is amazing; like it's just kind of still surreal.
"Kind of, it hasn't hit me yet. I'm still kind of in this moment of just like, 'Is this real yet?' And for me just at the end of the day, I work extremely hard on my game, I work extremely hard on myself, and I am extremely hard on myself. And I'm happy to be able to say I'm a champion, and it's been a long time coming."
Taking the whole thing in, the scene is remarkable. These guys just took down the Golden State Warriors. They were less than whole but still perhaps the greatest NBA dynasty of all time. In their building. In the last game there. The Warriors were on the ropes, to be sure, but this accomplishment is still historic. A certain level of disbelief is hard to shake.
It almost didn't happen.
Despite losing Thompson late in the third quarter, who was absolutely on fire, the Warriors had a great look to win the game with eight seconds to go. A long, crosscourt inbounds pass nearly went awry before Draymond Green corralled the ball and whipped it to Stephen Curry, who lofted a three on as good a look as the Raptors afforded him all night.
"I just saw him get free; he got a good look at it," Danny Green said. "We had two guys contest it, and it came up long, and luckily we had guys fighting for the rebound—Kawhi getting his hand in there. I was just thinking, 'Please, God. Don't make it.'"
Green, who is now being pestered for interviews, is wearing a soaked white "NBA Champions" T-shirt, his new matching hat and a pair of ski goggles. He seems slightly overwhelmed and expresses as much while he answers questions and gets drenched with rosé in the midst of his answer.
"We're trying to do it now, man, as best we can," he said. "It's hectic! Lot of media, lot of cameras. I'm sure when we get a chance to get out of here, when it's just our team, we're gonna have an amazing time."
Winning a title doesn't just happen. There is no single-elimination tournament when variance can be the judge, jury and executioner. Just getting hot at the right time doesn't win you a title.
There has to be a collective goal and execution over the course of 240 days. Then you have to win four out of seven in four series. That takes skill, depth, smarts and, of course, a little bit of luck.
"Just look at the roster—look at the roster of that team," Gasol said. "You look at the depth, the depth of them. Then you look at the bench, you look at the young players that they have, you see the coaching staff, their mindset, you look at the front office, their mindset they have.
"Go from top to bottom: ownership, trainers, physical therapists, chefs, everything. It's a top-class organization. They're all about winning. And like I was telling your colleague, it doesn't guarantee you're going to win, but it does help that everyone has that championship mentality."
"It was a heck of a 12 months," coach Nick Nurse said. "And I don't know, I just try to take things as they come. Didn't look too far ahead."
The Raptors were constructed and prepared for this moment. This summer presents some major questions about the fabric of the Toronto roster, but before worrying about that, the franchise has plenty of time to enjoy this moment.
This was a uniquely emotional Finals. From Kevin Durant's uncertain status and seeing him leave with a torn Achilles after playing just 12 minutes in Game 5 to Thompson missing Game 3 and eventually suffering a torn ACL in his left knee Thursday, the Raptors needed to be ready to face various versions of this Warriors team. Toronto's poise in managing that, even with all of Golden State's health concerns, required a superior level of mental focus.
The reigning champs did not bow out.
Neither did the Raptors. They answered every run. All of the tension associated with that culminates in this moment. No more taking it day-by-day. No more games.
It was all for this. This is why they party.
Woj on Kawhi Leonard: Clippers Top the List; Thinks Raptors Have Work to Do
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on SportsCenter Friday that Leonard, who can opt out of his contract and become a free agent this offseason, has the Los Angeles Clippers on top of his list of destinations. He also noted that the Raptors, who he just led to the 2019 NBA championship, "have work to do."
"He came to Toronto, with the idea from San Antonio, this was a very fine one year way station and I'm sure exceeded his expectations how they managed him physically to be a Finals MVP again, to win a championship," Wojnarowski said.
"But there was always the risk of him going back west. The L.A. Clippers are at the very top of that list, and I think the Raptors still have work to do between now and June 30 and the start of free agency to keep Kawhi Leonard in Toronto."
The San Antonio Spurs traded Leonard to the Toronto Raptors last summer in a blockbuster deal that sent DeMar DeRozan back their way, among other moving parts.
Toronto made the move knowing the possibility that Leonard could leave after one year if he so chose, but that decision by president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri paid off with the franchise's first title in their 24-year history.
Long-term prospects seem to be murky, however, with Leonard potentially heading to Los Angeles. Norman Powell is the only player officially under contract in 2020-2021, per HoopsHype. OG Anunoby has a team option that season, while Pascal Siakam can become a restricted free agent.
The 2019-20 season isn't as uncertain: Kyle Lowry, Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet are all returning in addition to the three aforementioned players. Marc Gasol can opt out of his deal, and Danny Green is an unrestricted free agent.
Still, losing a player like Leonard would be a huge blow to the Raptors. The best two-way player in the game averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals in 24 postseason contests en route to the title.
On the flip side, Wojnarowski's report is great news for the Clippers, who finished 48-34 and took the Golden State Warriors to six games in the first round as a No. 8 seed.
With Leonard in the mix, Los Angeles would become an instant title contender, creating the possibility of the eight-year veteran leading two separate franchises to their first-ever championships in back-to-back seasons.
The Clippers are already 6-1 favorites to win the title, perCaesars Palace, a mark that ranks second-highest in the league behind just the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers' and Clippers' marks seemingly insinuate significant improvement to their rosters via free agency or trade.
Ultimately, California could be the center of the basketball universe next year if Leonard heads to the Clippers and Anthony Davis is traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, which has been rumored for months, as noted byHoopsHype.
And then there are the defending Western Conference champions Golden State Warriors, who have won five straight conference titles.
Regardless of what happens, this offseason may be the most eventful since LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat in 2010.
Police Investigate Allegation Raptors' Masai Ujiri Hit Sheriff's Deputy on Video
Jun 14, 2019
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: The Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri celebrate after winning the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors after Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Police are investigating Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri for allegedly pushing and hitting a sheriff's deputy while trying to make his way onto the court for the postgame celebration at Oracle Arena following Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, according to NBC Bay Area's Kristofer Noceda and Gonzalo Rojas.
"We can confirm our deputy was pushed and struck by a Raptors executive after he asked him for his credentials to go on the court at the end of the game," Alameda County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ray Kelly said in a statement, according to Noceda and Rojas. "We are working with the Oakland Police Department to file a report and contact witnesses and review video."
The alleged assault is being categorized as misdemeanor battery on an officer.
Per Noceda and Rojas, Ujiri was initially not allowed on the court because he did not have the proper credentials. He eventually gained access to the celebration, though, with the help of Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry.
The 49-year-old Ujiri was not arrested.
After being named the NBA Executive of the Year with the Denver Nuggets in 2013, Ujiri has spent the last six season as part of the Toronto front office. He has served as both the team's president and general manager and this season helped deliver the Raptors' first-ever championship.
Ujiri has two years remaining on his contract with Toronto, though ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Washington Wizards are interested in hiring Ujiri as their head of basketball operations. Per Wojnarowski, the Wizards are prepared to offer Ujiri a deal featuring almost $10 million annually and ownership equity in the club.
Warriors vs. Raptors 2019 NBA Finals Results, Highlights and Top Comments
Jun 14, 2019
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kyle Lowry #7, Kawhi Leonard #2, and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors pose for a photo after Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
In their first NBA Finals appearance, the Toronto Raptors knocked off the Golden State Warriors to claim the 2019 title. Before Oracle Arena closed its doors for the last time, the fans saw a tremendous amount of fight from a wounded defending champion.
The Raptors and Warriors battled through a tight contest from start to finish Thursday. Kyle Lowry came out hot in the first quarter, but Klay Thompson had answers to his sharpshooting with several deep buckets as well.
Late in the third quarter, however, the Golden State star went down with a torn ACL, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:
Golden State’s Klay Thompson has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, his agent Greg Lawrence tells ESPN.
To put Thompson's night into perspective, he missed the final 14 minutes of the game and still led all players in points (30) for Game 6.
In the end, though, the Warriors didn't have enough firepower to keep pace with the Raptors, who raced toward their first NBA championship. Five of Toronto's players scored 15 points or more—two coming off the bench in Serge Ibaka (15) and Fred VanVleet (22).
Down the stretch, Kawhi Leonard iced the game with three free throws—one from a technical foul because Draymond Green called a timeout with none remaining for the Warriors.
Before we delve into the postgame commentary, let's take a look at how the series unfolded and a thrilling end to Game 6.
2019 NBA Finals Results
Game 1: Raptors 118, Warriors 109
Game 2: Warriors 109, Raptors 104
Game 3: Raptors 123, Warriors 109
Game 4: Raptors 105, Warriors 92
Game 5: Warriors 106, Raptors 105
Game 6: Raptors 114, Warriors 110
Game 6 Highlights
Green tipped Lowry's final shot in Game 5, which resulted in a Warriors victory. The Raptors guard opened Thursday's contest with a scorching hand:
Lowry's quick start gave the Raptors early confidence in front of a hostile crowd, and he didn't allow a shortcoming from the last outing diminish his aggressive offensive approach.
He put together his best performance of the series, registering 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in a closeout game.
With two minutes and 22 seconds left in the third quarter, Thompson landed awkwardly after a fast-break dunk attempt. Down in significant pain, he clutched his knee and needed assistance en route to the locker room.
Moments later, the Warriors guard returned to the floor, hearing a loud roar from the crowd:
After going down with an apparent knee injury and leaving the court, Klay Thompson returns to a roar from the Oracle crowd to shoot the free-throws. 👏#NBAFinalspic.twitter.com/Px5gtYtKHm
Thompson came back to shoot (and make) a pair of free throws, which gave him the chance to return to the game at some point. However, the team ruled him out for the contest after team doctors checked his injury.
With Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant leading the charge throughout the season, Thompson didn't garner much press, but he showed tremendous strength in the NBA Finals, which drew widespread praise across social media.
The 29-year-old battled a hamstring injury, which kept him on the sideline for Game 3 and averaged 28 points per contest over the last three outings. The five-time All-Star raised the bar for toughness in the NBA.
VanVleet showcased his range in crucial moments Thursday. He knocked down 5-of-11 shots from three-point territory, which included a big-time bucket late in the fourth quarter to put the Raptors up 104-101 with three minutes and 46 seconds left in the game:
The point guard made three 26-foot triples in the final quarter. Oftentimes, his scores answered a big bucket from Golden State or put Toronto in the lead.
Leonard won his second NBA Finals MVP, but VanVleet may have been the most valuable player in Game 6.
Final Comments
According to Curry, the Warriors' dynasty isn't dead. The team will move into a new building next season, but the superstar sharpshooter doesn't see this club falling off the mountaintop:
"I wouldn't bet against us being back on this stage again next year."
Golden State will have a difficult road ahead with Durant (torn Achilles) and Thompson (torn ACL) suffering significant injuries during the NBA Finals.
According to head coach Steve Kerr, Durant will miss the entire 2019-20 campaign, via The Athletic's Anthony Slater:
Steve Kerr: "What matters is Kevin Durant is going to miss next season with an Achilles tear. What matters is Klay suffered a knee injury. We'll know more later. But it's just brutal, just brutal what these guys have had to deal with."
If Wojnarowski's report is accurate concerning the nature of Thompson's injury, he could sit out for most of the next season. Curry, Green and a few solid role players should keep Golden State in contention for a playoff spot. However, a run at a sixth consecutive NBA Finals seems like a tough task without two elite shooters, whether they're on the mend or suiting up for new teams.
Durant can opt out of the last year of his deal to test the market, and Thompson will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Raptors had the opportunity to reflect on what led to their successful title run. Leonard shared a personal moment he experienced after the San Antonio Spurs traded him (per his request)—a move that broke up a Lowry-DeMar DeRozan tandem:
Kawhi shared what he texted Kyle Lowry after he was traded to Toronto:
"Let’s go out and do something special. I know your best friend left. I know you’re mad. But let’s make this thing work out." pic.twitter.com/ke6ZAeNx93
Lowry and DeRozan played together for seven seasons in Toronto. They took five consecutive trips to the playoffs but failed to advance past the Eastern Conference Final. Team executive Masai Ujiri rolled the dice on Leonard, who only had one year left on his deal, and the gamble paid off.
Regardless of Leonard's looming decision for free agency, we'll likely see more teams take chances with star players who have one year left on their contracts, especially if that acquisition leads to a legitimate shot at a title.
Finally, critics must give Lowry his due credit. After some poor outings in previous playoff series, he put together strong outings throughout the 2019 NBA Finals. Head coach Nick Nurse talked about his maturation process to this point:
Nurse touched on the team's overall composure and specifically Lowry's confidence, which he put on full display in Game 6. Leonard didn't just strap the Raptors on his back through Thursday's contest. Forward Pascal Siakam, Ibaka, VanVleet and Lowry all chipped in with major contributions.
Nonetheless, Lowry had experienced several disappointing playoff losses with this franchise. In some of those defeats, many would argue he disappeared in the biggest moments. The 33-year-old flipped the script this year, tying Siakam for a team-leading 26 points to beat a resilient Warriors team in an elimination game.
Kawhi Leonard Says 'I'll Think About That Later' Amid NBA Free-Agency Rumors
Jun 14, 2019
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors talks to the media during a press conference with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2019 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jack Arent/NBAE via Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard declined to comment about his potential impending free agency after leading his team to its first-ever championship.
"I'm about to enjoy this with my teammates and coaches, and I'll think about that later," Leonard said following a 114-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals on Thursday.
Leonard later told Scott Van Pelt on SportsCenter that he did not have atimeframeas to when he would make a decision on free agency, saying he was just going to take things "day by day" (around the six-minute mark):
Free agency has been looming over Leonard ever since he was traded to Toronto last offseason. He has a $21.3 million player option for the 2019-20 season.
As he attempted to force his way out of San Antonio, ESPN'sAdrianWojnarowskireported the California native was looking to land in Los Angeles, with either the Clippers or Lakers. Instead, the Spurs shipped him to the Raptors, a team SeanDeveneyof Sporting News reported last July he had "no interest" in playing for.
However, Leonard made the most of the situation by leading the Raptors to their first NBA title in their 24-year history. He captured his second career Finals MVP in the process, becoming the first player to ever win the award in both conferences.
When asked recently if he had purchased property in Toronto, Leonard raised some eyebrows by saying it "didn't happen yet":
Of course, Leonard may never need to actually purchase property in the city. He has already been offered a free condo if he re-signs.
It's not clear what the 27-year-old will prioritize in free agency. He already passed up the opportunity to sign a five-year, $221 millionsupermaxextension by leaving San Antonio. Toronto can offer him a five-year, $190 million contract this summer, while the rest of the league can only offer him four years and $141 million.
The Raptors knew the risk when they acquired Leonard, but after he helped hang a banner, there will be no regrets about the deal, regardless of his decision.
NBA Champion Toronto Raptors Have Everything Kawhi Leonard Needs to Keep Winning
Jun 14, 2019
In the aftermath of the Toronto Raptors' first NBA title, let's make one thing clear: This championship warrants no asterisk.
Their banner year, clinched with a 114-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Thursday night's Game 6, is not the byproduct of luck—at least no more than usual. It is not a fluke or a triumph born from convenience. Their path to this title was unconventional, perhaps even a little random, but the championship itself is a reminder in the form of consummate validation.
The Raptors belong here. They've belonged all year. They deserve this moment. They earned it. And in doing so, they've echoed what became clear a long time ago: Kawhi Leonard is not going to find a better basketball home.
Some holdouts will invariably refuse to go that far. Again: There will be a push to place an asterisk upon this title run.
Golden State was banged up throughout the Finals—more so than ever in Game 6. Kevin Durant was lost for the series, and perhaps all of 2019-20, after he suffered an Achilles injury in his Game 5 return from a calf strain. Kevon Looney was playing with a fracture of the first costal cartilage on the right side of his rib cage. And Klay Thompson, already laboring through a hamstring issue, left for good in the third quarter Thursday with a left leg injury that, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, has since been diagnosed as a torn ACL.
Everybody is battling something if they're lucky enough to be playing this late into the season. Kyle Lowry may need to have surgery on his thumb over the offseason. Kawhi Leonard, 2019 Finals MVP, coped with knee problems for the entire playoffs after remaining on a maintenance program all year.
What Golden State endured was something worse. By the end, the Raptors were facing a remnant of the Warriors dynasty. How could they not win?
Still, injuries did not determine the Finals. Toronto did.
It began with president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri's controversial—but not actually risky—acquisition of Leonard, which involved parting with franchise mainstay DeMar DeRozan. So many things could have gone wrong. Plenty did.
Raptors President Masai Ujiri’s Boss Season
- Fires reigning COY Dwayne Casey to replace him with first-time head coach Nick Nurse - Trades Demar Derozan for potential one-year rental Kawhi Leonard - Rolls dice by acquiring Marc Gasol at deadline - Raptors win 1st NBA title pic.twitter.com/MFlVE0UVfF
Leonard didn't play back-to-backs during the regular season. OG Anunoby, Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell and Fred VanVleet all missed at least 15 games. A left thumb injury put Jonas Valanciunas on the shelf for a significant time before he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Marc Gasol's arrival at February's deadline marked the second substantive alteration to Toronto's roster in six months.
Close calls, meanwhile, were peppered throughout the Raptors' championship push. They lost Game 1 of their first-round matchup with the Orlando Magic. Leonard essentially needed to hit two game-winners to take down the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals, including a series-ending buzzer-beater in Game 7.
Toronto looked wobbly to start the Eastern Conference Finals. The Milwaukee Bucks opened the series with two straight wins, the second of which was a 125-103 drubbing. It then took the Raptors two overtimes to edge past them in Game 3. The beginning of their four-game winning streak could just as easily have been a 3-0 death sentence.
With Durant out for all but 12 minutes of the Finals, the Warriors arguably posed an easier test for the Raptors. Except, well, they didn't. Dynasties don't dissipate without a fight. Toronto's 3-1 series lead, built in part thanks to Thompson's absence in Game 3, never really felt safe.
The Raptors navigated this minefield anyway. It could have been worse. It also could have been better.
Toronto's supporting cast spent much of the playoffs drowning in inconsistency. Fred VanVleet is a hero now, but he was a borderline no-show until he turned things around against Milwaukee in an about-face that just so happened to coincide with the birth of his son.
Danny Green went cold toward the tail end of the Sixers series and through the Bucks matchup. He perked up to start the Finals but went 3-of-15 from the field (1-of-11 from three) over the final three tilts and didn't attempt a single shot in Game 6. That is hardly an afterthought if the Raptors are preparing for a Game 7.
Ditto for Marc Gasol's up-and-down performance. His pendulum swung between passive and present all postseason. The former won out in Game 6. He missed all five of his shots, had more fouls (four) than points (three) and looked relatively unplayable.
All the setbacks, potential pitfalls and, above all, general newness makes the Raptors' title that much more impressive. This was Year 1.
It only gets better if Leonard stays.
Kawhi Leonard won MVP, but his teammates stepped up throughout the series...
The Raptors are the 1st team since the 1986-87 Lakers to win the NBA Finals with 6 players averaging 10 PPG in the series (h/t @EliasSports).
Pascal Siakam is among the league's brightest young stars. His shooting fluctuated for most of the playoffs, but he came up big when it mattered most. His 26-point, 10-rebound, three-assist detonation in Game 6, replete with tough defense against Draymond Green inside the arc, is a guideline for his trajectory.
Barely 25, Siakam is the favorite to win Most Improved Player honors. He earned almost as many second-team All-Defense votes (24) as Leonard (29). Leonard, Danilo Gallinari and Karl-Anthony Towns were theonly other playersthis season to clear 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one made three-pointer per 36 minutes with a true shooting percentage north of 60.
Anunoby missed the entirety of the playoffs after an emergency appendectomy, but he remains a legitimate three-and-D prospect and doesn't turn 22 until July. VanVleet is 25. Powell is still, somehow, just 26.
This Raptors core has staying power. Indeed, other members are older. Ibaka turns 30 in September, Lowry is 33 and Gasol is 34. That would matter more if they were each on long-term deals. They're not.
Ibaka and Lowry come off the books next summer. Gasol will join them if he picks up his $25.6 million player option. Green's free agency is a concern, but going on 32, he shouldn't break the bank.
Play their cards right, and the Raptors could have gobs of cap space in 2020. Only four guaranteed salaries will be on their books if they re-sign Leonard, use their first-round pick in 2020 and hold off on an extension for Siakam.
Depending on what else they do this summer, the Raptors can carry Siakam's free-agency hold in 2020 and have more than enough to add another max player. Pinch their purse strings until then, and they'll have a line to at least $50 million in spending power.
Leonard isn't getting that kind of open-ended flexibility anywhere else. The Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks have paths to dual maxes this year and can keep their books clean into next summer, but they're not reigning champs.
The Raptors are.
They allow Leonard to rejoin a championship core that potentially hasn't reached its peak and has the maneuverability to continue retooling around him in the years to come. That means something.
Kawhi Leonard, after the trade, texted Kyle Lowry and said "Let's do something special. I know your best friend left. I know you're mad. But ltet's make this thing work out.” It worked out.
Leonard can still leave. He's earned the right to choose. He owes the Raptors nothing after helping them get everything.
But if he heads elsewhere after what they just did, knowing what they're still built to do, then they never had a chance of keeping him in the first place.
Dan Favale covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@danfavale) and listen to hisHardwood Knockspodcast, co-hosted by B/R's Andrew Bailey.
Video: Kawhi Leonard Reveals Text He Sent Kyle Lowry After 2018 Trade to Raptors
Jun 14, 2019
Kawhi Leonard can't replace Kyle Lowry's best friend DeMar DeRozan, but he and Lowry share a special bond now as NBA champions.
While meeting with the media following Toronto's 114-110 Game 6 victory over the Golden State Warriors Thursday night, Leonard revealed what he texted to Kyle Lowry once the San Antonio Spurs traded him to the Raptors:
Kawhi shared what he texted Kyle Lowry after he was traded to Toronto:
"Let’s go out and do something special. I know your best friend left. I know you’re mad. But let’s make this thing work out." pic.twitter.com/ke6ZAeNx93
The chemistry built between the two since that text was sent was palpable when they sat down together for an interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols:
Just did a really cool interview with Kawhi and Kyle Lowry, about how they got here and everything this title means, and here’s what happened before we even started rolling. Special. pic.twitter.com/jpZIBJlxdI
Along with Danny Green, the Finals MVP was sent to the Raptors in exchange for Jakob Poeltl and DeRozan, who had been Lowry's teammate in Toronto since 2012.
Leonard, Lowry and the Raptors certainly made things work out by winning the franchise's first title.
