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Kawhi Leonard is going to report for Toronto Raptors next season

By Mike Bossetti

SAN ANTONIO,TX - APRIL 2: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives on Terrence Ross #31 of the Toronto Raptors at AT&T Center on April 2, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. 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. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO,TX - APRIL 2: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives on Terrence Ross #31 of the Toronto Raptors at AT&T Center on April 2, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. 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. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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There have been reports that Kawhi Leonard is not happy about his trade to the Toronto Raptors and rumors he may not report for camp. Here is why those rumors are non-sense.

After many rumors and much speculation the Toronto Raptors finally pulled the trigger. Kawhi Leonard is now a Raptor.

Enjoyment for Raptors fans came with a caveat, not only was Toronto trading away one of their best players for a rental, rumors were circulating that he may not report for camp next season.

Those rumors are complete and total non-sense. There are multiple reasons why Leonard refusing to play for the Raptors would be detrimental to him and his long-term goals.

His current contract

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Leonard is due to make more than $23 million next season. His contract with the Spurs paid him a base salary of just greater than $20 million per year and included a 15-percent trade kicker. Kawhi could elect to waive his 15-percent bump if he would like, I am guessing he is not going too.

The pesky thing about contracts is both parties have to hold up their end of the bargain. If Kawhi refuses to report to Toronto next season, he would forfeit his salary as well.

There are also rumors he would not “burn” the final year of his contact and still be obliged to his current deal, although most CBA experts have squashed that notion.

Regardless, Kawhi has more than 23 million reasons to report for next season.

His next contract

Over the past calendar year, Kawhi Leonard has played nine games of basketball. If he sits out next season it will be approximately 26.5 months between Kawhi’s last meaningful stretch of games and the time he hits free-agency.

A player with prior injury history, who hasn’t played in two years, and has been a locker-room cancer for two organizations, is a tough sell as a max contract. If Kawhi wants to receive a maximum offer from the Los Angeles Lakers (Or Clippers) next season, he needs to be at least semi-productive during his time in Toronto.

The opportunity cost is zero

Leonard has dedicated his life to basketball. At some level, not playing on an NBA court has to be killing him. Yes, there are rumors he might have allowed his injury to linger longer than most, but he did have reason to miss last season.

One year later, full healthy, Kawhi will almost certainly be itching to get back on the court. Not only will Leonard get to play basketball, but he will get to play for one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Leonard has a real shot to make the NBA finals and it’s crazy to believe he is going to pass that up for no reason.

Reports have already begun to surface that Leonard is “warming” to the idea of playing in Toronto.

Next: Three Potential free-agent signings for the Raptors

Long story short, Kawhi will be suiting up for Toronto next season. After that, you never know.

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