After leading the Toronto Raptors to their first championship in franchise history, will NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard sign a contract extension with the Raps?
Take a deep breath Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard fans – if the NBA odds have it right, HE STAY.
On Monday morning, NBA odds opened with the Raptors at -265 to sign Leonard, the NBA Finals MVP, to a contract extension. Following the Raptors were the Association’s two Los Angeles teams with the Clippers at +165 and the Lakers at +225. Those odds didn’t last long. Less than 30 minutes later the Raptors moved to -410 to sign Leonard.
Locating Leonard
“I don’t really know,” Raptors head coach Nick Nurse told the Toronto Sun about Leonard’s decision.” I know he has to make a decision here in a couple of weeks. I think he had a good season here, people liked him. I think we can give him a pretty good deal.”
Publicly, Leonard has dodged questions of where he might sign after his current contract expires on June 30 ever since he was traded to the Toronto Raptors from the San Antonio Spurs. Since then, all Leonard did was lead the Raptors to their first NBA Championship while he averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists in the playoffs.
“When I was there on my opening day meeting, I was focused on the now,” Leonard told reporters after the Raps beat the Golden State Warriors to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy on Thursday. “I wanted to make history here. That’s all I did. I’m still playing basketball, no matter what jersey I have on.”
The Raptors are listed at +650 to win the 2020 NBA title, trailing only the Los Angeles Lakers (+275).
