Kawhi Leonard has yet to make his long-awaited free-agent decision, but he's already influencing the NBA landscape.
If the Toronto Raptors superstar waits past the end of the NBA's moratorium period (noon E.T. Saturday) to decide where he'll sign, the Los Angeles Lakers will need to delay making the Anthony Davis deal official, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk and Bobby Marks.
Fortunately for the Lakers, the other three teams involved - the New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards - are expected to cooperate if the scenario arises, sources told Marks.
Delaying the blockbuster trade gives the Lakers $32 million in cap space and allows the club to offer Leonard a max deal for four years and $138 million. Executing the deal before a potential Leonard signing would leave L.A. with $30 million in cap space and a maximum offer of four years and $127 million.
The Raptors are the only team that can offer the two-time Finals MVP a five-year, $190-million max contract.
Here are the other things hinging on Leonard's decision:
The ripple effect if Kawhi doesn't make his decision before noon ET tomorrow, per ESPN. The following would be on hold. pic.twitter.com/MlMQixL3hc
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) July 5, 2019
The three-time All-Star averaged a career-high 26.6 points per contest on 49.6 percent shooting from the floor across 60 regular-season appearances in 2018-19. Leonard further elevated his game during the postseason, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 boards, 3.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest.
